‘Members of the same club.’ Brayden Harrington, 13, describes Joe Biden helping with his stutter

Brayden Harrington, a 13-year-old who met Joe Biden in New Hampshire last year, shares his story about Biden’s advice on overcoming a stutter. USA TODAY

Personal stories about Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden were a central part of his nominating convention this week but one of the more memorable moments was a speech Thursday by a 13-year-old boy who talked about connecting with the former vice president over their shared experience with a stutter.

Facing the camera, Brayden Harrington stood holding a piece a paper and began talking about how Biden helped him with his stutter after the two met at a campaign event in New Hampshire in February.

“He told me that we were members of the same club,” said Brayden of Concord, New Hampshire. “We stutter.” 

Biden has spoken publicly of being teased throughout his childhood about his stutter. He was called Joe Impedimenta, Dash and Stutterhead by classmates, he said.

Biden told Brayden that he used to read aloud a book of Yeats poems to practice speaking. And he showed Brayden how he marks certain words and letters in speeches to make them easier to say out loud.

Brayden held up his paper showing he’d done the same thing to prepare for his remarks at the Democratic National Convention.

“I’m just a regular kid,” he said. “And in a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me more confident about something that’s bothered me my whole life.”

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Last year, former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders apologized for a tweet that appeared to mock Biden after a Democratic debate when he mentioned talking with children with speech impediments who have asked him for advice.

Huckabee Sanders apologized soon after and deleted the tweet, saying she did not realize he had a stutter.

“I actually didn’t know that about you and that is commendable. I apologize and should have made my point respectfully,” Huckabee Sanders said.

After Braydon’s speech Thursday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway tweeted her support.

“Way to go, Brayden!” she said.

Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, who had her own poignant convention moment showing how hard she’s worked to recover from being shot nine years ago, also commented.

“Speaking is hard for me too, Brayden,” Giffords tweeted. “But as you know, practice and purpose help. Thank you for your courage and for the great speech!”

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci

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