“I always think it’s great that the president knows me by name and face,” Engel says of sitting on the aisle. “Having done it, it’s sort of become a tradition of mine.”
Regardless of whether there is a Democrat or a Republican in the White House, he can be seen reaching out to shake that hand.
“For me it’s respect,” he says. “I voted for Barack Obama. I like him, I think he’s a good president.” But if Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had won, “I would be there shaking his hand.”
While it is nice to honor the presidential office, Engel says the real reason he sits on the aisle is because his constituents back in New York love to see him on TV. When he’s in his home district, voters often mention the State of the Union.
“It could be September or October and constituents will say to me, ‘Oh I saw you on TV!’ And I’ll think it was a great interview and ask what I was saying and they’ll say, ‘No, you were shaking the president’s hand on the aisle!’” Engel says with a chuckle. “As long as they love it, I love it.”
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