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Oh, That Joe! (No. 13 in a Series) -- Kicking Ohio State's A**

September 19, 2008 1:12 PM

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., spent the past two days trying to win over Ohio voters, but he may have undermined that work in one quick dis of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team Friday morning.

Before boarding his flight from Wilmington, Del., to Washington, D.C., the loquacious Blue Hen displayed some Fightin' Blue Hen alumni bravado in an impromptu airport meeting with the University of Delaware football team.

"I was out in Ohio," he said, clutching a football. "I told the folks in Ohio that we'd kick Ohio State's ass!"

The Buckeyes might be coming off a 35-3 drubbing at the hands of top-ranked Southern Cal, but the Blue Hen ballers aren't exactly world beaters, themselves. Delaware is ranked sixth in the Division I-AA coaches poll, but they lost earlier this month to Maryland.

Upon hearing that his school's squad was departing in a plane just a football field's length away from his own, Biden came over for a brief meet-and-greet with the blue-and-yellow-clad throng.

Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill -- "she didn't play football but she went to Delaware," Biden assured the team -- shook hands and posed for photos with the players.

"This'll hurt your reputation," he warned them as the cameras snapped away.

The Delaware lawmaker told the team he makes sure to watch their games as he travels the country in his "fancy bus."

"Wish I was going with them," Biden said of the squad as he jogged back towards his plane, tossing a football to his press wrangler and boarding the flight to D.C.

-- Matt Jaffe and Jake Tapper

September 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (73)

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"..Tell them Hillary sent you..."

No, thanks. I voted for Hillary in the primary and was devastated when she lost, but she really lost a lot of my respect when she refused to speak at the Iran rally this coming Monday.

Her withdrawal from the program is what turned the event into a partisan game of football which ultimately ended up with Palin being uninvited, instead of a bi-partisan effort to show support for Israel and the American Jewish community.

Posted by: Lee | Sep 19, 2008 10:22:11 PM

Even when Sarah does wipe the floor with Biden in the debate, the biased media won't give her credit for it.

They'll just talk about how great Biden was, and how well Obama will do in his next debate.....................

Posted by: Lee | Sep 19, 2008 10:17:15 PM

Words just words, nothing more nothing less. Get over it!

Posted by: Bea | Sep 19, 2008 10:16:46 PM

Listen everyone we need to rally behind
Obama/Biden. We know whats at stake that includes our friends in Ohio. Don't believe me. I have a message from Hillary herself - “Tell them that Hillary sent you.” She said this today.

Posted by: Katherine | Sep 19, 2008 8:54:02 PM

Football is practically a religion in some states, and you never know how much the sport can impact politics there. Both Northern Illinois University and the university of Hawaii -- schools from blue states -- kicked the University of Alabama's a** in the fall of 2004, causing Bear Bryant to roll over in his grave, and just look at how the Crimson Tide's home state subsequently voted.

Posted by: Donald from Pasadena | Sep 19, 2008 7:50:01 PM

I think some of McCain's bad jokes are going to hurt him a lot more.

Number one being Sarah Palin.

Posted by: Danny | Sep 19, 2008 7:49:23 PM

Spend two days in the state trying to win over Ohio voters and then this patented mental clubfoot inserts said foot in his mouth [metaphor alert!].

I'm not going to be surprised if Sarah Palin waxes the floor with good-ol' Joe October 2nd.

Posted by: daveinboca | Sep 19, 2008 7:26:38 PM

jake,
you have a separate blog for Joe Biden gaffes, comments, etc.

and they make fun of Palin, Biden is the bigger joke. He is lucky that media is on their side

Posted by: Frieda | Sep 19, 2008 7:23:40 PM

Biden is turning into an even bigger clown that I thought he'd be . Didn't the Obama camp send some baby-sitters to make sure this stuff didn't happen?

Posted by: Mesquito | Sep 19, 2008 7:23:30 PM

No, this doesn't show that Biden is a regular guy. This shows that Biden is a complete moron with no idea how to run a political campaign. Insulting the people of the state you happen to be campaigning is usually a bad idea, especially when if you lose that particular state (like Ohio) your chances of winning the election are like practically zero. Keep it up Joe. You're one of the best weapons the McPalin/Palin ticket has.

Posted by: EyeDoc | Sep 19, 2008 6:29:56 PM

No worries Jake and Sen. Joe Biden we have already been flying OSU marching band Hang on Sloopy video for Obama/Biden for months now we even have it playing on some of the articles Drudge linked up to for the past two days. Jake and Joe we grew up with this song. We love the OSU marching Band.

Posted by: Cooday | Sep 19, 2008 6:18:16 PM

Jake

I can't even figure out if you are criticizing Biden or not. Or maybe just showing us how boring the campaign trail is. Is there a point to this article somewhere?

Posted by: jock59801 | Sep 19, 2008 5:32:48 PM

Look anyone who is a real college football fan knows there is good natured trash talking that goes right along with it. I have two people in this office (one a Buckeye and one a Fighting Irish fan) and then we have a couple USC fans too. They all spar and gloat and say things just like this. And besides, the Buckeyes will trounce Delaware, and they know it. So, they don't really care. They understand the alumni cheering for their team. They practically invented it! That doesn't mean they're stupid and will vote away their jobs and health benefits in November because Joe Biden went to a different college and, God Forbid, actually roots for them! Saying so just insults those hardworking men and women. Go Obama and Biden!

Posted by: Kate Mom of Twins | Sep 19, 2008 5:22:40 PM

Poor old Joe, he seems a dearest grandpa telling his grandchildren stories about his youth.

Why don´t you speak about his brother and son being investigated of fraud? that´s much more interesting that football teams.

Posted by: Stephen from Indiana | Sep 19, 2008 5:14:19 PM

Yeah, in Columbus they are fanatical about the Buckeyes. I have two degrees from Ohio State and one from the University of Florida. Considering how poorly the Buckeyes have been playing, I've been thinking about myself as a Gator.

Posted by: Hugh | Sep 19, 2008 4:13:51 PM

Good old "foot-in-the-mouth" Joe. He reminds one of that crazy Uncle in the family who has no tact, is the only one that laughs at his own bad jokes and everyone ignores and avoids at family functions.
You wouldn't elect him to take the garbage out let alone be Vice-President of the United States.
--------------------
Did you know that in the Delaware (Joe's home state) Democratic Primary, Biden received a little over 2,500 votes. The people in his own state wouldn't vote for him for President.

Posted by: Zank | Sep 19, 2008 4:03:11 PM

Independent for Obama

I'm still wondering when McCain and Palin will be telling the truth!?

They will tell there versions of the truth when they lose and blame it on each other.

Posted by: Andrew | Sep 19, 2008 3:40:26 PM

I'm still wondering when McCain and Palin will be telling the truth!?

Posted by: Independent for Obama | Sep 19, 2008 3:06:11 PM

If you know anything about college football, you'll know this could make a difference. Fans of tOSU (ie the entire state) are pretty fanatical. Believe me, I'm a University of Florida alumnus and fan.

Posted by: MattUF | Sep 19, 2008 3:03:48 PM

Yes and all those Packer v Steeler gaffes of McCain are driving voters over the barricades to Obama. Cover something important Jake. Make up a new race card.

Posted by: ricky | Sep 19, 2008 2:58:54 PM

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