People in Wilmington, Delaware are Joe Biden fans. It’s been his hometown since he was 10, and a political home base for more than 50 years.

But most here also support his decision to get out of the presidential race, writes Steven Kurutz for The New York Times.

“As Kenny Rogers said, ‘You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,” said John Flaherty, a retired government employee sitting at Angelo’s Luncheonette in Wilmington.

 The 73-year-old was also a staff assistant to Biden in the 1980s.

Most of the people interviewed for this story were fond of the president, and everyone had a Biden story.

Eunice LaFate said her decision to become a full-time artist was inspired partly by an encouraging letter from then-Senator Biden.  

She also remembers a shared moment of grief. Biden’s son, Beau, died shortly after the death of LaFate’s husband.

She stood in line for five hours at Beau’s funeral to offer Biden condolences and  remarked that she was also grieving.

“The man took time out to console me. It was just, what should I say, so moving. The crowd was waiting, but he took time out,” she said.

Read more about Joe Biden’s time in Wilmington, Delaware in The New York Times.