Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Photos: Biden Massages Lady Biker On His Lap, Obama Gets Bear Hug Lift
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 9, 2012
Modified Sep 9, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 3
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 9, 2012
Modified Sep 9, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The photos you are about to view have not been doctored by any fake news outlet or political opposition researcher or chain email your grandmother sent you: President Obama was lifted a foot off the ground by a power-lifting, blood-donating pizza store-owning Republican from Florida, and Vice President Biden really gave a biker a shoulder massage while she sat on his lap.
Lets start with POTUS, who paid an unannounced visit to Big Apple Pizza Parlor in Fort Pierce, Florida. Per the pool report:
There were only 10 customers inside when the pool entered, but the owner, Scott Van Duzen, made up for the relative empty shop. "Scott, what's going on man," Potus shouted as he came through the door. "Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I've ever seen." Potus approached Van Duzer, 46, of Port St. Lucie, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 260 pounds.
"Everybody look at these guns," Potus said, pointing to Van Duzer's monstrous pectoral muscles. "If I eat your pizza will I look like that?" The two men laughed. They embraced. Van Duzer lifed Potus a good foot off the ground.
"Look at that!" Obama exclaimed once back on firm ground. "Man are you a powerlifter or what?" Indeed Van Duzer told your pooler later that he can bench press 350 pounds.
Hmm, so why Big Apple Pizza? Van Duzer is a philanthropist and also promotes the importance of giving blood. Also, this:
Van Duzer, who said he played basketball, football and baseball in high school, said he is a registered Republican, yet voted for Potus in 2008 and plans to do so again in November. "I don't vote party line, I vote who I feel comfortable with, and I do feel extremely comfortable with him," Van Duzer said.
When asked about what the Secret Service thought of his hug, Van Duzer said, "[The President] said I was alright as long as I didn’t take him away."
Meanwhile, VPOTUS visited Cruisers Diner, "a '50s style silver-plated diner just off a highway 32 in Seaman, Ohio." Yep. Seaman, Ohio. Biden displayed his skilled brand retail politics for a few minutes, then the rest of the pool was asked to leave, except for one AP photographer. Per the pool:
After the pool was shooed out, an AP photographer, Carolyn Kaster, was allowed back in without the rest of the pool to capture the VP sitting at a booth with a group of bikers, who we're told are called "the Shaddowmen." Pool had asked to join but did not get to go in.
Kaster's photos show first the VP with a group of male bikers, and later a female biker with the group sitting on the VP's lap. He said at one point, "I know who runs the show." No further detail on the exchange there unfortunately.
"Unfortunately" cannot begin to describe how we feel about our ignorance of the exchange. Your move, Onion.
Tagged
2012 election
barack obama
Democrats
florida
president obama
republicans
swing states
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .