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On the Trail: Joe Biden sees Iowa caucus as momentum-builder
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By KRISTEN SENZ
Union Leader Correspondent
Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007
EDITOR'S NOTE: "On the Trail" is a series profiling the major candidates as they campaign across the state in the final weeks before the New Hampshire primary.
JOE BIDEN and the chairman of his presidential campaign in New Hampshire get the same glimmer in their eyes when they talk about the Iowa caucus.
"I think what you'll see is there will be an epiphany of sorts on Jan. 3 around 9 p.m.," said Jim Ryan, Biden's state campaign chairman.
The hope is that Delaware's senior senator will land among the top three or four Democratic candidates in Iowa, and people will begin to see that with his knowledge, experience and character, he's the party's best shot at winning the general election. A non-celebrity candidate who avoids negativity toward his opponents, Biden knows that if that hope doesn't materialize, he's out of the race.
"For me, it's about viability. For Hillary, it's about electability. For Barack, it's about experience," Biden said during a recent telephone interview. "We all have our issues. I know that if I don't come out of Iowa with a legitimate reason for people to say, 'OK, these guys can do this,' then it's probably over for me."
Ask the average voter what he or she thinks of Biden, and you're likely to get one of two responses: "Who's he?" or "He'd make a great secretary of state." The latter seems to irk Biden even more than the former.
"I'm not going to be secretary of state. Don't say that," he pleaded with one voter at a recent campaign stop on the Seacoast. "In no administration would I accept the position of secretary of state."
Though he's clearly not interested in the top State Department job, he twists the notion that he's qualified for it into a positive for his presidential campaign.
"Are you prepared to vote for anyone for President at this point in time in our history who's not capable of being secretary of state? Would you consider appointing any of my opponents as secretary of state? Just think about it."
Biden's campaign suffers from a relative lack of funds (he has raised about $10 million) and the public perception that he can't win the primary. Ryan genuinely believes the senator can win, and he often works 18-hour days trying to make it happen.
"This campaign has got all the energy of putting your thumb over a full bottle of 7-Up and shaking vigorously," Ryan, a state representative from Franklin, said at a recent campaign stop.
But trying to keep Biden on a schedule during a day of retail politics is like opening that bottle and hoping it won't overflow. Ryan, the senator's self-proclaimed "clock master," grew nervous as Biden's remarks eased past the two-hour mark at an event last week in Portsmouth for which he had arrived an hour late.
While Biden passionately explained his Iraq exit strategy to about 100 voters at Seacoast Media Group headquarters, Ryan and Mark Doyle, Biden's bodyguard, slowly moved toward him.
"You guys are hovering around like a bunch of Secret Service agents," Biden said.
"You're supposed to be in Hampton," Ryan said in a loud whisper.
"What are we doing in Hampton? Is it a crowd this big?" Biden asked.
In Hampton, a pub full of local movers and shakers was waiting to shake his hand and induct him as an honorary member of the local bridge club. When he finally arrived, he was greeted with a frosty pint of Guinness, which he accepted graciously and then placed on the bar.
Biden, who shares his Irish heritage with Ryan and Doyle, said he has never had an alcoholic drink in his life.
"I know a lot of people don't trust an Irishman who doesn't drink," he said later, "but I just don't trust my genes."
Born in Pennsylvania
Biden was born in Scranton, Pa., in 1942. When he was 10, his family moved to suburban Delaware, where his father worked as a car salesman. As a child, Biden struggled with a stutter and took to reciting poetry to cure himself of it. His love of poetry stayed with him, and he often quotes his favorite poets during stump speeches.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 when he was 29, Biden was sworn into office from the hospital room where his two young sons were recovering from the car accident that killed his first wife and infant daughter. Five years later, he remarried; he and his second wife, Jill, have one daughter.
Throughout his time in the senate, he has commuted to Washington from his home in the suburbs of Wilmington. He is currently ranked as one of the least wealthy United States senators. But, Biden said, there's a "liberating aspect" to his non-millionaire status: "I don't owe anyone anything."
The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden is on a first-name basis with dignitaries around the world, and he considers those relationships a major advantage over his Democratic opponents.
"To the vast majority of Americans, the overwhelming concern is security," he said. "It's about someone who they can trust who they think has enough depth and breadth to lead them through what they know is going to be a pretty difficult decade."
Terrorism views
In a speech he gave Sept. 10, 2001, Biden predicted that terrorists would attack America and said the threat could come "in the belly of a plane."
One of the nation's leading experts on terrorism, Biden now predicts that extremists will attack an urban rail facility.
"In two hours, there's going to be more people sitting in an aluminum tube underneath New York City than in 27 full 747 jets, and yet there's no escape, no lighting and no security," he said. "Places like that are going to be really likely targets."
He added that the country is devastatingly ill-prepared for such an attack, and that he has fought to make changes for five years.
Biden and his campaign hope a television advertisement set to launch in Iowa this week will familiarize more people with his name and resume.
But no matter what happens, Biden knows 2008 won't be a repeat of the 1988 election, before which his presidential campaign abruptly ended when he was accused of plagiarizing a speech by Neil Kinnock, then-leader of the British Labour Party. It was later reported that he had correctly cited the author in every speech but the one that was caught on videotape.
"The best thing about running this time around," Biden said, "is that if I lose, I lose on my own terms."
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YOUR COMMENTS
It's so ironinc that all we here about from the media is Clinton, Obama and Edwards when on the ground, all of the folks I have contact with say that Joe Biden makes the most sense. I hope he lasts until Georgia...If so, I'll vote for him and so will many others.
We were cheated out of having the chance to vote for Wesley Clark in the primary and Kerry/Edwards absolutely ignored the state entirely...similar to Gore/Lieberman
Here we have a 1 term Senator (Edwards), a 1.5 term senator ( Clinton) and a half term senator (Obama) standing against someone like Biden. None of the three "so-called" front runners is ready for prime time.
Isn't this country tired of electing Presidents in need of on the job training?
- David Patton, Atlanta, GA
I've been a Biden supporter "forever" because I always liked him on the Foreign Relations Committee-- I got to know him on CNN-- I respect both his style and substance-- I'd like to help him win in New Hampshire, and believe that if he wins the nomination he will also win the general election.
- Carolyn McCollom, Nottingham
its about time we vote for the most qualified candidate instead of who has the most money Who better to represent the hard working middle class than someone who is ACTUALLY the upper middle class. Joe isnt a millionaire he ranks 99th out of 100 in wealth.Even the other canidates agree joes a good knowledgable integrity canidate.DONT VOTE THE MONEY IN
- doug wilson, waynesboro/pennsylvania
I wish people would stop buying into the mass media's attempt to elect our next president for us. Vote! Vote for Joe! He is only unelectable if we allow it. I for one will not give up my glimmer of hope so easily. For those of you who have not seen his speech to the DNC on Youtube, please, go see it. We have a great man here. Keep calling for more focus on him. Write letters, blogs, donate if you can, but do something! Lets plan on calling him Mr. President next year.
- S. Mustaro, Glendale, NH
Thank you Union Leader, and thank you Kristen Senz for this piece. The mainstream media is not going to do the work for us, so it is so critical and so important that somebody does. If New Hampshire can read about Joe, get to know him per say, they will see and know what all the previous people posting here from all over the country have come to find. I will try to add to what they have already so pointedly articulated. This is such a critical time in our history, and while Americans should always be careful in choosing a candidate, the importance this election is magnified ten fold, it's immense. The need to dig beneath the artificial surface has never been greater. Joe Biden is not only the most experienced, most qualifed and deserving candidate, he is the most honest and courageous. He doesn't pull punches, he's fearless, and his record is unbeatable. This will be so important when it comes time for the general election. He will not be beaten. The one thing he lacks is big money, this is due to the fact that Joe can't be bought. I don't know about you but I want a President free to make decisions and choices based on the good of the country and fellow Americans, rather than special interest groups, Corporate America. We've suffered that enough already. Joe more importantly has ideas and solutions, all these qualities trump money. World leaders are already turning to Joe in times of crisis, this is because they trust and respect him. It also shows he's more than prepared to act in the capacity of the position, without yet holding the office. New Hampshire you have such an exciting opportunity here to bring the quality candidate to the top, and play a key role in us electing the next great American President, Joe Biden!
- Jim Houston, Snohomish, WA
Everyone who has actually watched a debate say something like, "You know, I like Joe Biden, but he can't get elected." If everyone who said that voted for him we would get a good president. Instead we are told we want "new" and "innovative". We've had 16 years of so-called change and have seen nothing but devisiveness. Biden is practical and can work with both parties--meaning he may get something done. Unfortunattely for him, he doesn't pander.
- Michael Najjar, Bedford, nh
To win the Whitehouse in a landslide and not a close call ,we need a candidate with the following resume. 1.Vast knowlege of foreign affairs, and a actual plan to get out of this war. 2. A strong track record of leading and passing Bi-Partisan legislation. 2. Someone who is not polorizing but someone who can unite this country once again. 3. A straight talking tell it like it is candidate. 4. Someone who was there for the troops, (Action speaks louder then words)A Champion of the Mine Resistant Armour Vehicle, which the Bush Adminstration failed to supply to our troops. 5. Someone who can bring over the crossover voters (Moderate Republicans and Independents) like Reagan did for his party back in the 80's. The only candidate from either side who has the resume that the next President needs is Joe Biden.
- julie Overvig, medford,oregon
Joe Biden is by far the most qualified person running for president in the field today. He has represented our little state very well and is known by most as Joe, not Senator. If everyone looks at his record as senator then they will realize he is the person to lead this contry.
- Willie Trowbridge, Bowers, DE
It baffles me as to why the press does not cover Joe Biden. He is qualified to be the next president and would bring this country together. I guess the coverage you get depends on how much money you have. I think America stands for more than that. I hope I get to vote for him. What a statement it would make if we the people voted for the best person rather than the person the press would like us to vote for.
- Janice Nicholson, Plymouth, MA
Every branch of the media has glossed over two brilliant candidates from the outset. And they are Joe Biden and Chris Dodd. Clearly, they have more experience, knowledge and integrity than any candidate running. On both sides. Yet, the American Idol Presidential Election is getting closer, and the media continues to feed us their daily dose of the candidates with the deepest pockets and who are owned by special interests. The American voter has become pathetic when it comes to picking their leaders. They don't do their homework. They come to their "decision" of who to vote for on sound bites, magazine covers, or TV ads. Once again, the American voter will get what they deserve, and then complain about it later when things don't quite work out the way they had hoped. And America will sink deeper into its quagmire.
I'm still full of hope, and I pray everyday that the people of Iowa are listening and get it right.
If our country was in the middle of prosperity, and our economic picture wasn't bleak with the debt we've incurred (not to mention record high oil prices)...if we didn't have our brave men and women abroad spilling their blood and losing their lives...if we didn't have Armageddon going on in the Middle East, and possible turmoil in Pakistan (a nuclear power), not to mention tensions with Iran, Syria, China, Russia, and keeping our eye on what happens with our ally Israel. If there wasn't so much critical attention needed to this world and our own country, I wouldn't really care who we elect. But we are not in a stable place as a nation, and our trust and credibility have been severely damaged around the globe. There is a clear and intelligent choice to make as Americans...and that choice is Joe Biden. Unfortunately, it looks like America will fail once again as they cast their votes for their American Idol President............sigh....very disappointing.
People of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina...America's future is in your hands.
Please watch this video I produced in support of Joe Biden. Send it to friends and family and ask them to do the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4
- James Disalvatore, NY, NY
Quite simply, the George W. Bush presidency could be the setting of the sun on America. Our international reputation has never been lower, the growth of religious extremism is frightening, Russia is regaining Superpower strength while quashing democratic growth, and China's power and influence continues to grow as it tries to bring over a billion people into the first world. The arrogance of the current administration toward other countries is deplorable, ineffective, and breeds insecurity. It has failed to deal effectively with any of these issues - all while massively expanding the government, sacrificing brave soldiers' lives, and wasting hundreds of billions of taxpayers' dollars. All "empires" eventually end, but if you do not think that foreign policy and international relationships are critical to the survival of the U.S. as we know it, you have been asleep for the last eight years. I don't know if Joe Biden can get enough of us to vote for him, but I do believe he would admirably and effectively accomplish the most important job of the next presidency - promoting international security and regaining the prominence of the U.S.
- Michael, Contoocook
Don't trust an Irishman who doesn't drink. Classic. He really is the most qualified candidate in this race and he truly cares about the direction this country needs to head in. Simply put he gets it. Hopefully his campaign will Live Free after NH. At least enough so I can support him here in mass.
- mike chevy, watertown, ma
In the presidential campaign history of this could-be-great-again country, we have never had the honor of having a candidate as exceptional as Senator Joe Biden (sans 1988). If thoughtful voters don't ignore the media circus, and cast a vote for this honorable, upstanding, deep thinking, problem solving, people uniting stateman then this teetering country will just have more of the same politics as usual. Joe has the insight, courage, talent and genius to give the entire World the confidence that the States are United and that finally, at long last we have a captain at the helm who won't steer us into an iceberg. He is a potential Hero and we need one NOW.
- Victoria Bond, Las Vegas, Nevada
Joe Biden is the best candidate for president of the U.S., including both parties. He has no special interest ties, has not become wealthy from being in politics (special interest's). Knows foreign policy much better than any candidate of either party. Politics in Washington STINKS, as it now stands, and won't change with the election of most of the candidates running for President. He has vowed to change Special Interest's Politics in Washington as it now stands. We the American People are fools if we don,t give him a chance.
- Paul Brandenburg, Nathrop, Colorado
God I hope we can get Joe in the top three in Iowa. If we don't we have failed the system. Joe IS the most qualified to lead our country at this time and the only candidate who could gain bi-partisan support to get the tough jobs done.
- Buck Clark, Waterloo, Iowa
Joe Biden is the best candidate for president of the U.S., including both parties. He has no special interest ties, has not become wealthy from being in politics (special interest's). Knows foreign policy much better than any candidate of either party. Politics in Washington STINKS, as it now stands, and won't change with the election of most of the candidates running for President. He has vowed to change Special Interest's Politics in Washington as it now stands. We the American People are fools if we don,t give him a chance.
- Paul Brandenburg, Nathrop, Colorado
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