Biden Blitzes Battleground Buckeye State on Election Eve: 'It's up to Ohio'

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Biden Blitzes Battleground Buckeye State on Election Eve: 'It's up to Ohio'

November 03, 2008 11:01 PM

ABC News' Matt Jaffe reports: Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., blitzed through the battleground state of Ohio on Election Eve, holding four events in four hours and banging home the message that should the Democratic ticket bag the Buckeye State, the Oval Office will be theirs, too.

"I'm Joe the Biden. They got the plumber,” the Delaware lawmaker quipped to start off his speech Monday night in Copley. But it was all business, as Biden emphasized to Ohio voters the importance of their state.

"I'm here with a very simple, straightforward message. And it's real basic -- change is on the way," the Democratic vice presidential nominee said as the crowd of 1,750 roared.

"It's now in your hands," Biden said as the clock wound down towards Election Day. "The fact of the matter is, there's less than 24 hours and we're gonna know who the next leader of the free world is. And now, and now America, you got it. Now America, and probably, probably America’s decision will be whatever Ohio decides."

"Barack [Obama] and I, during the closing months of this campaign, have made the case for change as clearly and as straightforwardly as we can," he continued. "And John McCain and Sarah Palin have made the case, in my view, for continuing the status quo."

As his hectic final day swing has gone on, Biden showed signs of tiring, slipping up a few times. This evening in Copley, he called Palin "Governor McCain."

"It's not only George Bush's economic policies that John and Governor McCain have bought hook, line and sinker," he said. "It's also Karl Rove's brand of politics and tactics."

Biden made two other stops in Ohio between his Zanesville rally this afternoon and tonight’s Copley event. He addressed volunteers at a New Philadelphia campaign office and then spoke to the overflow crowd outside the gym in Copley.

"It’s out of Barack’s hands and mine and we’ve laid out our case as best we can and Sarah and John have laid out their case," he told the overflow crowd, previewing his remarks moments later at the rally. "And it’s up to the American people and it’s up to you, but quite frankly, it’s up to Ohio. I mean, we do well here, and I believe we’re gonna win here, we win this election."

Biden also emphasized the importance of the Buckeye State when addressing volunteers in New Philadelphia.

"We got a real shot, but you know, it's an old joke -- it ain't over 'til it's over," Biden warned, accompanied by his wife Jill. "We've been down this road before. I was deeply involved in the Kerry campaign, Jill and I, and also in Al Gore's campaign, but we can't let that happen this time.

"I've been doing this for a while," said the six-term senator. "I got elected when I was 29 years old. And after a while you sort of get a feeling in your fingertips, you know? And I kind of got that feeling. Sounds corny to say it but I know you know it -- this is the most important election any of us have voted in."

For his part, Biden will cast his vote Tuesday morning in Wilmington, joined by his 91-year-old mother Jean and wife Jill.

November 3, 2008 in Biden, Joe | Permalink | User Comments (19)

User Comments

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Why Obama picked Biden is anyone's guess. Biden is an embarrassment to mammals everywhere.

Posted by: today | Nov 3, 2008 11:25:11 PM

Why McCain picked Pallin is anyone's guess. Pallin is an embarassment to mammals everywhere. (Oh, one difference from mine and today's, I know how to spell "embarassment")

Posted by: carlos | Nov 3, 2008 11:33:41 PM

Why McCain picked Pallin is anyone's guess. Pallin is an embarassment to mammals everywhere. (Oh, one difference from mine and today's, I know how to spell "embarassment")

Posted by: carlos | Nov 3, 2008 11:33:43 PM

A true student of Biden - plagarist! :D

PUMA!

Posted by: leelee.again | Nov 3, 2008 11:50:17 PM

I used to support Sen. Obama, but the Obama campaign kept on saying Gov. Palin was corrupt and medically ill, but today, released medical records released prove that she is healthy, and the independent council responsible for investigating "troopergate" proved that she was innocent and that the earlier finding that she "violated ethics rules" was a politically driven. the Obama campaign wants to imprison political rivals for political reasons; I'm switching my vote to John McCain.

Posted by: Obamacrat for McCain | Nov 4, 2008 12:02:03 AM

Biden is the man,and if you got a problem with Joe,you got a problem with me.So you skirt wearing Palin lovers, got news for ya,BACK OFF.

Posted by: Joes Muscle | Nov 4, 2008 12:03:33 AM

O'crap for McSame,dude you wreek the smell of repubs.Stpo postin your stinkin up the place

Posted by: Joes Muscle | Nov 4, 2008 12:07:17 AM

Those Obama supporters are SO educated.

ROFLMA!!!

PUMA!

Posted by: leelee.again | Nov 4, 2008 12:20:19 AM

HEY REPUBLICANS!

Obama just won in Diksville Notch New Hampshire, first in the Nation to vote!!

At 12:07PM EST the votes were counted and Obama won in a LANDSLIDE 15 - 6 votes!

Diksville Notch has voted Republican in every election since 1968!!!

A real bad omen for your side fools!!!!

OBAMA/BIDEN = LANDSLIDE TOMORROW!!!

Posted by: Davis | Nov 4, 2008 12:30:42 AM

Regardless of how the McCain camp wants to spin their plans, it's cleartheirmain targets for program cuts to fund their huge tax cuts include Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security (mandatory spending).

Hotz-Eakins, chief economics advisor for McCain, wrote an arcticle about this: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9872/testimony_of_douglas_holtzeakin_before_the_committee_on_the_budget_united_states_ohouse_of_representatives_prepared_remarks.html.

Regarding Social Security, he wrote, “There exist a wide variety of modifications to the basic program—increases in the normal and early retirement age, change in the indexation of initial benefit awards, changes to the cost-of-living indexation during retirement, altering benefits to reflect longevity, and others—that would slow the growth of outlays."

Regarding Medicare and Medicaid, he wrote, “The key requires not only slowing the growth of outlays, but making sure that we get quality for each dollar of spending. Given the scale of the challenge, it is likely that there is no single reform needed,
but rather a long series of adjustments to ensure that the United States does not overspend on health care....

"An alternative approach is the use of triggering mechanisms to specify cuts—perhaps unpalatable cuts—automatically and thereby induce action to change mandatory programs. An example is the Administration’s recent proposal for automatic reductions in Medicare if the program requires greater than 45 percent in general revenue."

He wrote under "CONCLUSION":
"To summarize, controlling the future growth of mandatory spending—especially that in old-age programs—is central to controlling the size of the federal government, fostering future economic growth, and maintaining a sustainable fiscal policy."

He voiced similar opinions this year:

"Holtz-Eakin proposes curbing growth in Social Security (by such measures as trimming the inflation adjustment and raising the retirement age), reforming the health care system (for example, by promoting competition and paying for outcomes instead of treatments), and gradually reducing discretionary spending as a share of GDP."

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/st_20080510_8442.php

Posted by: Research | Nov 4, 2008 12:39:21 AM

test

Posted by: leelee.again | Nov 4, 2008 1:02:50 AM

According to the book of Revelation, the anti-Christ: will be a man in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will come out of nowhere, decieve the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal..... the prophesy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything. Is it OBAMA? I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT AND SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO VOTE. THE BOOK OF REVELATION SAYS THAT THE BEAST WILL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE AUTHORITY APPROX 42 months (in ch 13) Thats almost a 4 year presidency term. Lord have mercy on us!

Posted by: Chris | Nov 4, 2008 2:04:13 AM

Chris, again, please stop reading SPAM e-mails and taking them on 'blind faith'.. I know it's hard, but it's time to grow up and enter the world of reality. When you start quoting things that have already been debunked on Snopes, you know that it's time to seek a different path.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/antichrist.asp

Posted by: Concerned American | Nov 4, 2008 2:42:46 AM

The headlines at Yahoo, Fox channel, etc. are far too bias for Phony Palin. She has BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ABUSING HER POWER, BY 10 REPUBLICANS NO LESS !!! ------ NOT 1, OR 2, OR 6, BUT 10 REPUBLICANS AGREED THAT PALIN HAD BEEN UNETHICAL, ABUSED HER POWER !!! ---- But timed for the election, one man, working for her, dependent on Palin for a job, has said he has doubts about the finding of 10, plus 4 Democrats! ------ So we have 1 opinion vs. 14, sounds like her guilt is still pretty strong!! ---- Sounds like Palin is desperate to spin this conviction away from herself. She also faces charges of taking public money for simply sleeping in her own house!?!? ---- Palin may owe the state over $ 20,000 that she slipped into her accounts!!!

Posted by: Republican for Obama/Biden | Nov 4, 2008 3:05:43 AM

Palin is getting a bad rap. She believes that she is acting on everyones best interest. She does not completely blindly follow Republican party lines. She has an ethical compass. It may be a little skewed but its politics not pulpit.

On the other hand, I don't think she could handle the responsibilities of a larger population state, even Washington or Maryland. She just doesn't seem to have the management skills for it. That makes her greatly unqualified to be one heartbeat away from the Presidency.

She was brought onto the ticket as a move to get both religious conservatives and female voters who can't see beyond pandering. I don't blame her but I think it shows poor judgment for those who chose her and a clear entrenchment into politics leading judgment not following.

Posted by: Ed | Nov 4, 2008 4:48:38 AM

Reagan democracts for Obama/Biden!

Posted by: vivian | Nov 4, 2008 5:57:45 AM

well ohio today we will see if you are smart enough to realize what the last 8 years of republican government has done to you---and if you want more of the same or not,

Posted by: rodney | Nov 4, 2008 7:33:26 AM

to Ed: I have a question - has Sen. Obama run anything??????City, State, Company??????

It does not matter who wins tonight, Sen. Obama already gets a Pension and Health care (for which he has not paid anything into) for life.
Sen. McCain a least paid into the funds while serving OUR country.

Posted by: usa | Nov 4, 2008 1:10:22 PM

BLACK PANTHERS in Pa with sticks intimidating voters!

Check it out on line.

It's scary!

Posted by: rick from pa | Nov 4, 2008 2:40:11 PM

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