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Valerie Biden Owens isn't a candidate in this year's presidential election, but those who came to hear her speak in Altoona Thursday didn't mind.

Owens stopped by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's local office to campaign for Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, her older brother.

"I'm OK with either," Tyler Mentzer of Duncansville said, of seeing the candidates or surrogates. "I'd love to see Obama and Biden."

Mentzer said he already knew the ticket's issues; he liked Owens' personality and lightheartedness.

"I think we need more of that," he said.

It was standing room only as more than 50 people gathered to hear Owens speak, about a half-hour after the event scheduled for noon.

George Thompson of Altoona stood near the back, under American flags and festoons hanging from the ceiling.

"I would prefer to see the candidates," he said. "But I realize there are only so many hours in the day. This is a little more intimate into the insights of the candidates."

Owens did not disappoint, telling stories of her childhood with Biden and their other brothers, before reminding attendees of the issues Obama and Biden will fight for.

"In the face of struggle, a better life is possible," she said.

"That's the lesson Barack Obama and Joe Biden learned from the women in their lives."

Owens placed the "tremendous responsibility" of this year's election in voters' hands.

"Check 'em out, Barack and Joe, to see if they measure up to your standard," she said. "This is so much more important than if Barack gets to be president and Joe gets to be vice president. It's a tremendous responsibility for them and for you, because you get to pick."

Owens elicited loud applause when she referred to a repeated remark by Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Joe and Barack are not gonna build that bridge to nowhere," she said. "They're gonna build that bridge to you."

Owens has managed her brother's campaigns since 1970, and said she felt honored that the Obama campaign asked her to travel this fall to support the ticket. Coming to Altoona from Lancaster Thursday, this was her first trip through the state.

Before speaking to the local Women for Obama and other area supporters, Owens said she's confident those favoring Hillary Rodham Clinton during the primary will support Obama and Biden.

"The Hillary supporters have been the absolute backbone of this Democratic Party," she said. "As [former secretary of state] Madeleine Albright said, this is not about gender; this is about agenda."

Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.