Joe Biden and his family spent Thanksgiving on the small island of Nantucket in Massachusetts and had lobster on the dinner table along with turkey.
Biden, his wife Jill, and his daughter Ashley were spotted strolling the streets of downtown Nantucket on the Monday and Tuesday before the Thursday holiday last week.
The New England jaunt was a quick respite from the 2020 campaign trail, days before his Iowa bus-tour this week meant to emphasize his commitment to winning the state’s caucuses on Feb. 3. On another occasion, Biden was seen walking alone, with no family or security protection.
Nantucket has long been a favored vacation spot of the wealthy, though more during summer months than Thanksgiving. Former executives Eric Schmidt of Google and Jack Welch of GE own summer vacation homes on the 105-square-mile island, about 30 miles south by ferry from Cape Cod.
The former vice president, 77, and his family have spent almost every Thanksgiving in Nantucket since 1975. One exception was 2015, following the death of Biden’s son Beau. He also skipped visiting the island in 2018.
The Biden family’s Thanksgiving dinner included a turkey and six lobsters, catered by Faregrounds Restaurant.
“I’m happy to do it. It means a lot that we keep being asked,” Bill Puder of Faregrounds Restaurant told the Cape Cod Times. He has prepared meals for Biden and his Secret Service team in the past.
On the Friday following the holiday, Biden attended a high-dollar fundraiser on the island hosted by Elizabeth Bagley, a former Obama administration appointee.
Some Democratic presidential candidates spent Thanksgiving in early nominating contest states. California Sen. Kamala Harris spent Thanksgiving campaigning in Iowa before she dropped out of the race on Tuesday. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker also spent Thanksgiving in Iowa, and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spent the holiday in New Hampshire.
