Biden adds New York stop to campaign itinerary

Vice President Biden is adding to his packed campaign schedule with a swing next week through upstate New York, to headline a rally for Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.).

{mosads}The event, first reported by the Syracuse Post-Standard, will look to bolster the two-term congressman in his race against Republican John Katko. A Siena poll released last month showed Maffei with a 50 percent to 42 percent advantage, and it’s become a late opportunity for a GOP pickup. 

Biden went to law school at Syracuse University and has maintained close ties to the region. He openly roots for the school’s basketball team, prompting some ribbing from President Obama, when head coach Jim Boeheim visited the White House earlier this year.

The president said, ‘All Biden wants is to see Boeheim,’ ” Boeheim’s wife, Juli, told the paper. “Everybody laughed.”

Biden spent Monday holding campaign events in Miami for the Democratic National Committee and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for his old job — but this time as a Democrat. Next week, Biden is also expected to attend a slate of campaign events in Chicago.