Nice Reuters Bio/Story on Joe Biden... "WH Contender"

[1corona4u]

FACTBOX: Joe Biden, Democratic White House contender


(Reuters) - Joe Biden of Delaware, one of the longest-serving members of the U.S. Senate, is making a longshot bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Here are some facts about the 65-year-old lawmaker, considered a leading expert on foreign affairs.

* He was first elected to the Senate in 1972, shortly before he turned 30, the minimum age. A month later, his wife and daughter were killed and two sons injured in a car crash. Biden considered giving up his Senate seat but party leaders helped persuade him to serve. He remarried 15 years later.

* With a liberal to moderate voting record, Biden heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, having earlier chaired the Judiciary Committee. He presided over two of the most controversial confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominees, both conservative Republicans. Robert Bork was rejected while Clarence Thomas was narrowly confirmed.

* He counts among his proudest moments in public service helping to end genocide in Bosnia and passing the anti-crime U.S. Violence Against Women's Act a decade ago.

* In 1987, seen as a rising young political star who could draw big crowds and deliver fiery yet often long-winded speeches, Biden ran for the Democratic presidential nomination. He dropped out after charges of plagiarism in one speech and exaggerating his academic record. Biden said, "In my zeal to rekindle idealism I made some mistakes."

(more)

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN3031867020071203

[1corona4u]

1. Wow...retuers was on Joe yesterday....

here's another story;

Biden seeks converts in uphill White House bid

By Thomas Ferraro

ALLISON, Iowa (Reuters) - In a Democratic race for the White House dominated by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Joe Biden is scrambling to survive by enlisting an army of backers, one at a time, for Iowa's first-in-the-nation nominating contest.

At each campaign event, the U.S. senator from Delaware picks up a few supporters -- a grandmother here, a country lawyer there -- but he has no illusions about the difficulties he faces.

"I'm not a superstar," Biden said. "People say they like me, people tell me they think I'd be a good president but that they just don't think I can win."

It's not an assessment he shares. Biden is aiming for an upset -- at least a third-place finish in Iowa on January 3. That would be a victory in a state where he recently was seen running a distant fifth place, and would be enough to propel him into New Hampshire for its January 8 primary.

If he doesn't place third, or at least a close fourth, Biden says he's out of the race. But he is confident.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0331598820071203

[1corona4u]

2. LOL...

Here's a great comment from the article;

"I haven't yet held an event where someone hasn't come up afterward to say, 'I signed a pledge card for Hillary, John (Edwards) or Obama or (New Mexico Gov. Bill) Richardson but I'm now for you,'" Biden told Reuters in an interview between campaign stops.

[1corona4u]

3. And, this is interesting...

Meanwhile, he is determined to reach out to as many people as possible in Iowa, which holds the first of the state-by-state nominating contests to decide who will represent the two political parties in next November's general election.

Matt Berry, a small-town attorney, had considered backing a number of candidates but he picked Biden after a town hall meeting with the senator in Mason City.

"He has the strength, character and experience we need," Berry said, holding a newly purchased "Biden" bumper sticker.

But Berry said his daughter, Katie, a 22-year-old college student, favors Obama. "She thinks Biden is too old."

That's a challenge Biden faces but he isn't deterred.

"I'm going to win out here," he said. "All I need to do is come in third. If I beat Obama, Hillary or Edwards, it'll be big news. That's all I have to do to be catapulted into New Hampshire."

[youthere]

4. Anyone that actually takes the time to listen to him...

comes away a Biden supporter or at least with him as a strong #2 choice.

[1corona4u]

5. So true....

it's a shame his upward momentum didn't catch on earlier...

[jillan]

7. I don't know. There have been times that I have been happy that he has not been under the scrutiny

that the frontrunners have been under.

I mean - look at Hillary. People are doing everything they can to take her down.

[murbley40]

6. kick

[youthere]

8. Kicking

[frogcycle]

9. thanks for posting this n/t

[K Gardner]

10. I always knew OF Biden, but I never really knew ABOUT Biden until I started

listening in earnest and researching. No matter what happens, I'm glad to know he's one of the good guys and will be in there fighting for us and for our country. I know that sounds sappy, but I can't help it. He makes me feel good about my country again. And its been a long long time since I've felt that way.

Joe's MY rockstar supernova :-)

[1corona4u]

11. If you really want to see a good video, go to his website...

on his welcome page...nice look into his personal life.