Hillary Clinton is returning to the region July 8 and she's bringing a pal from Scranton with her.

Vice President Joe Biden will make his first formal campaign appearance on the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's behalf at a time and location in Scranton to be announced, Clinton Pennsylvania campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Formas said.

The visit by Mrs. Clinton will be her second to Northeast Pennsylvania this year. The former secretary of state stumped at Dunmore High School on April 22 during the Pennsylvania Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. She won Pennsylvania handily, but the state is considered a chief target for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump

because of blue-collar regions like Northeast Pennsylvania and the state's western part, where Mr. Trump visited Monessen on Tuesday.

Mr. Biden, who was born in Scranton and moved to Delaware with his family when he was 10 years old, has returned to the region regularly over the years and still has friends here.

He visited the region as vice president several times, most recently on March 17, 2015, for both the 110th annual Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County and the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinners. He also dropped by the Society of Irish Women's 17th annual dinner that night.

Previous visits to the area by Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden

Hillary Clinton

March 10, 2008: Then-U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton makes a campaign stop at Scranton High School.

March 15, 2008: Mrs. Clinton marches in the 47th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Scranton.

April 13, 2008: Mrs. Clinton goes campaigning door-to-door in West Scranton.

April 21, 2008: Mrs. Clinton delivers a speech at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.

Oct. 12, 2008: Mrs. Clinton and former President Bill Clinton visit Court Street Methodist Church in Scranton for the baptism of their nephew. Later, the Clintons join then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, at the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton for a campaign event.

July 29, 2015: Mrs. Clinton held an afternoon fundraiser at the Scranton home of longtime supporter Virginia McGregor, about three months after announcing her candidacy for president.

April 22 : Ms. Clinton delivered a speech at Dunmore High School before a crowd of 1,200. While in town, she also visited Casa Bella Restaurant in Scranton.

Joe Biden

Sept. 1, 2008: Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden visited his boyhood home at 2446 N. Washington Ave., held an economic roundtable discussion in the backyard and stopped by La Festa Italiana in downtown Scranton.

Oct. 12, 2008: Mr. Biden held a campaign event at the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton. He was joined at the event by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and the Clintons. An estimated 6,000 people were in attendance.

April 23, 2010: Mr. Biden flew into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport to speak at a campaign event for then-U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.

Oct. 10, 2010: Mr. Biden made a stop in Dickson City and Scranton to stump for then-U.S. Rep. Chris Carney. A fundraiser was at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center followed by a stop at Mr. Carney's campaign office on Main Street in Dickson City.

Sept. 16, 2011: Mr. Biden visited Duryea to survey the flood damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

July 3, 2012: Mr. Biden spoke at the Independence Day celebration on Courthouse Square in Scranton. His sister, Valerie Biden Owens, and his son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, joined him. The vice president also visited the Green Ridge Little League field, where he spoke with the members of the Green Ridge All-Star team.

Aug. 22, 2013: President Barack Obama and Mr. Biden spoke at Lackawanna College about higher education.

March 17, 2014: Mr. Biden stopped by Scanlan's Restaurant on Linden Street and later visited Terry's Diner in Moosic to talk about health insurance. That evening, he spoke at the Greater Pittston Area Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Woodlands Inn and Resort in Plains Twp.

March 17, 2015: Mr. Biden was the principal speaker at the 110th annual dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County. Prior to speaking at that dinner, he paid a visit to Society of Irish Women's 17th annual dinner at the Radisson Lackawanna Station.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com