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Biden's Shadow Campaign

June 06, 2008 2:11 PM

ABC NEWS' Z. BYRON WOLF WRITES FROM THE SENATE

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, has not been in the Presidential race since just after the Iowa Caucus, where he finished 5th with 4 percent of the vote.

While he hasn't been a candidate for months, Biden has been on the offensive against Sen. John McCain for several weeks, releasing statements from his Senate press office attacking McCain's platform.

Today, Biden zinged off a statement reacting to a report in the Grey Lady that McCain agrees with President Bush's expansive view of executive authority, especially where it comes to the NSA warrantless wiretapping program.

“I said during the FISA debate in 1978 that “it is not necessary to compromise civil liberties in the name of national security,” said Biden in the statement. "That’s as true today, even in a time of war, as it was then. We all share the goal of capturing the terrorists and protecting national security and we can do that without violating the privacy of the American people. Like President Bush, Sen. McCain is presenting the American people with a false choice—national security or civil liberties. We need a President who understands that we can have both. It’s what our values and our Constitution demands.”

Biden was the only one of the many Senators who ran for President this time around that was actually in the Senate in 1978 and he always seemed a little frustrated that voters weren't taking him more seriously. He had more experience in the Senate than any of the other candidates, Democrat or Republican, and his foreign policy chops are evident - Biden chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

There have been a number of similar anti-McCain statements emanating from Biden's office in recent weeks and back in May when President Bush seemed to take a swipe at Sen. Barack Obama during a speech at the Knesset in Israel, Biden leapt up to cry foul and accuse President Bush of a "disgraceful" "political hit."

He told the Washington Times last week that Sen. Barack Obama, who has since claimed the Democratic Presidential nomination had asked him to play a more prominent" and "deeply involved" role in Obama's campaign.

All that from a guy that hasn't even endorsed Obama yet. Yes, there are still three Democratic Senators who have not officially endorsed a Presidential candidate, although Biden is the only one who sought the office himself this year.

The others are Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio.

It would only be a formality at this point anyway with Obama the presumptive nominee and Biden already playing attack dog for him. and it falls in line with something Biden said after returning to the Senate after folding his own Presidential tent.

"I'll endorse the next President," he said then.

- Z. Byron Wolf

June 6, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (13)

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Joe Biden always end his campaign rallies with a portion of a poem which ended with "when hope and history rhyme"...

I now see the Hope as Obama, the History as Biden.

Its perfect!!!

Posted by: lmordini | Jun 8, 2008 8:26:00 PM

Chicosez,
I'm with you! Biden should be on the TOP of that ticket, though if he did get added to the Obama ticket that would be the only reason I would vote for Obama, though I'd really be voting for Biden. No Biden, then two voters here not going to vote in the general election, as a choice between a "Savior" and a Neanderthal like McCain is no choice at all.

Posted by: cacatua | Jun 6, 2008 8:54:44 PM

I like the fact that Biden is one guy who can curse on the record and get away with it. Most pundits think he sounds tough.

I think he reveals how hilarious having a Senator in public that really speaks his mind.

Obama could do worse.

Posted by: Genna | Jun 6, 2008 8:12:59 PM

Obama/Warner, but I would gladly take Obama/Biden.

Posted by: Greg | Jun 6, 2008 6:15:15 PM

Hair, nor hat, make the man. It's the intelligence under the cap that will win the day.

Posted by: Seanguy | Jun 6, 2008 4:50:34 PM

I think Joe Biden would make a wonderful vice-president. An Obama Biden ticket would truly be great for America.

Obama/Biden
'08/'12

Posted by: Nobodys fool | Jun 6, 2008 4:08:21 PM

The misinformation on the FISA wiretapping is interesting. It would not allow interception of calls and emails originating in the US and ending in the US. It is for intercepting messages that pass through the US because of the network.

Posted by: Buford Gooch | Jun 6, 2008 3:56:59 PM

It is the most likely and smart choice if politics weren't involved.

There is no one who would catch this country in the tragedy that would follow heaven forbid anything happened and the president could no longer serve.

There is no more well versed and studied candidate out there. And he would trash any candidate that McCain could pick for VP.

Can you imagine the VP debates if Biden was the nominee. They would be a joke...I would feel horrible for whomever Mccain picks if Biden was their opponent.

I could even see people not taking the offer because they would be trashed in a debate on national television.

Posted by: dl | Jun 6, 2008 3:42:00 PM

Bye-Bye Ex Dem. You have diminshed intellectual capabilities then. No self respecting individual who truly respects and hold the values of the Democratic party would vote for a GOP or McCain, period. See Ya wouldn't want to be ya.

Posted by: Cognitive Dissonance | Jun 6, 2008 3:17:07 PM

Joe Biden would make and excellant VP. Unfortunately, his depth of experience would so far overshadow Obama's lack of experience that it would diminish Obama's stature rather than inhance it. Of course, Obama would have a hard time finding a less experienced candidate than himself. To me experience counts, which is why I'm not voting for Obama. You can try to pretend that I am a republican plant but I'm not. I am a now ex-dem though.

Posted by: chicosez | Jun 6, 2008 3:10:00 PM

Biden should be Obama's VP. He's a perfect fit!!

Posted by: TK | Jun 6, 2008 2:59:21 PM

anyone who wants to make sure the repubs dont take office as much as me i like.

Posted by: bhrandon | Jun 6, 2008 2:50:01 PM

Hard to take Biden seriously.

The memory of a Senate hearing with Biden in a baseball cap to cover his hair plugs is seared in my brain.

Every time I hear his name I smile.

Posted by: Smith | Jun 6, 2008 2:24:52 PM

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