Boost for Biden?
Is the big winner on the Democratic side in Iowa going to be ? In a few days here, I have seen the snows melt a little and the senator's prospects warm up - many conversations with people who really are going to caucus suggest that he is not necessarily an also-ran.
A politics professor at confirms that a Biden surge is the cutest outside bet in town at the moment. The logic is that Hillary bombs and he comes in third.
He has been an impressive debater.
More importantly for Iowans, he has been impressively switched on to Iowa's brand of retail politics; keeping his famously big mouth closed and his ears open. Sure, he once stole a speech from the British politician - but redemption, in the snow, may be at hand.
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Didnt know much about Biden, but as you say, looks impressive and is a good debater. He also appears to have 'gravitas' and depth to him.
Once to watch out for, for sure....
Happy Birthday Auntie Beeb's World Service! - I presume that includes you Justin! Phew! 75 years already, eh? Where has the time gone? Glad to see Kofi Annan calling the Beeb the world's greatest ally.
Anyway, on to Biden - seems okay to me but what are his chances of convincing floating voters?
Either way, anyone who steals a speech from Neil Kinnock can't be all bad. Just so long as he doesn't go copying all his speeches. After all, it didn't do Howard Dean any favours did it - YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
I do not think so, but sometimes were are shocked. Hillary seems to be waning a bit.
Biden is great but too little too late. In Iowa: 1)Obama 2)Clinton 3)Edwards 4)Biden 5)Richardson 6)Dodd
Hopefully he will get a spot in the administration though.
I hope Biden surprises us all - he's the only Dem that can really trump the Republicans over Iraq and national security. We need him!
Sen. JOSEPH R. BIDEN is the presidential candidate who I'll vote for in coming California primary election. Iowa folks should elect Sen. JOSEPH R. BIDEN to be Democratic Party's front-runner, therefore Biden can invite Sen. JOHN F. KERRY and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd to join his cabinet later.
I've met the man, and like him. He's the genuine article. I've done campaign work for his son, and the Senator made a point of meeting and actually *talking* to the people helping get his son elected Attorney General for Delaware. He'd be a good President, but not a great one. In this election season, that makes him far and away the best choice in the Democratic field. Unfortunately between the plagiarism incident, his unfortunate appetite for shoe leather, and his not-so-powerful fund-raising, he stands very little chance.
I think Hillary's 'wanning' is more a case of regression to the mean than anything else. As people become more familiar with the candiates her name req advantage diminishes etc.
Longshots are always interesting to consider but I doubt that it will happen, and even if he pulls third its highly unlikely that he would last in the long run.
Oh and Happy Holidays
Keep an eye on Biden, but with this different, historical election, a lot can still happen.
Joe Biden is the man we need to put our country back together again. He will have my vote, if he can pull out in front in the primaries. He has what it takes to make it all work. Clinton and Obama leave a lot to be desired as potential front runners and as a potential president.
Best of the Holidays
Biden President and Edwards VP will give the Democrats a ticket to the White House.
Do some research. The plagiarism thing has been debunked. It's just used to discredit Biden by people who can't challenge him on substance. He credited Kinnock in all but one speech. The Dukakis campaign made a big deal of it - the staffer who did was later fired.
There are three things hurting Biden. (1) Interest groups don't consider him a reliable buy, so he gets fewer contributions, and has to stay within public financing laws. (2) Having come from the working/middle class and dedicated his adult life to the Senate, he is one of the least wealthy senators (99th/100 I think). So no personal fortune to spend on ads. (3) The big media companies would rather focus on trivia than substance, and pay little attention to the most qualified candidates. They justify this based on, well, those candidates aren't raising the funds or polling well. They can't raise money and don't have name recognition because the media only talk about their "top 3" candidates!!
Then voters say, well, I don't want to waste my vote if he can't win, or well, he's not trying, why isn't he running more ads? And then we act surprised with who comes out the other side of this.
Watch the videos at for more info.
Also, he rarely mentions it, but his son may be going to Iraq next year. He goes about every 6 months.
Also see see biden.senate.gov
Senator Biden seems the most experienced and the most honest with Edwards pretty close. I believe these two could make it happen for USA and with a Democratic Congress maybe we can get something done here in the USA that makes some sense.
We have people still without housing in New Orleans and billions have been spent there just what is going on here that nothing seems to get done. We have open borders on all sides and what do we here "fight them over there so we don't have to fight them here" that is a bunch of baloney they can hit us anytime they want it seems to me because we have done nothing to secure our borders, except talk about it.
You know if Joe makes a strong showing in Iowa this is a completely new race. We are looking for solid credentials along with electablity here in New England. Get him past Iowa and the rest of the country will rally and bring him back home to Washington as the new leader.
I am an Iowan caucusing for Richardson. If I can send some people to Biden and make him viable in my precinct, it will almost certainly come at the expense of Hillary and help Obama.
This caucus night is going to be so much fun!!!!
I don't care about repeating speeches, but plagiarizing papers in school is too much for me. He should have been expelled then.
Putting aside the plagiarism, his record in Congress boiled down to the worst sort of partisan bickering. Ask how much got accomplished (or not) while Biden and his party had control of both the White House and Congress. Oh, wait---inaction supported by hot air is something the Republicans should support, so maybe he has a chance after all.
I delight in the intelligence of the letters posted here. Makes you just want to scream with Deanian joy. Now let me bring the level down.
Biden will make a fine Secretary of State for Mr. Obama, and Richardson in the UN would be great.
After her loss Hillary can replay her tapes of those spontaneous tributes to Hillary, produced, directed, and written by Hillary Clinton. Perhaps she might find something at one of the cable stations? American life is filled with second acts, after all.
For crying out loud, Justin, can't you get your facts straight at least once??!! Biden did not STEAL Kinnock's speech. In all but one instance, he DID credit Kinnock for the speech (he mentioned it many times and in ALL of those instances, he credited Kinnock). Unfortunately, the ONE time he forgot the credit was caught on camera.
I'm beginning to think you're the laziest foreign correspondent in the U.S. ! Don't you research anything before you write?