Joe Biden, a bit bitter, gives up his latest campaign

Running for president is a tough business, as it should be. Candidates spend long hours wheedling money from people so they can ask others to please vote for them. And those crowds know they have the leverage and they grill the candidates and suck up to them and ask for endless autographs and photos and tell stories about their troubles. And the candidates listen, as they must and should.

And the crowds' cheers are great. And the laudatory introductions. But the days are long. And so are the nights flying somewhere new to start another long day very early. And the fatigue is great.

And only a few win of the many who try.

Delaware's Sen. Joe Biden knew the end of his latest presidential effort was near Thursday night as the Iowa caucus voting began. Biden has spent who knows how many days traveling Iowa and shaking hands and talking earnestly about serious subjects and inane subjects with people he'll never see again.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was visibly frustrated with how the long race had played out. The Times' Peter Wallsten asked the veteran senator why he and other candidates, such as Connecticut's Sen. Chris Dodd, with long records of government experience somehow could never find their way out of the bottom rungs of the Democratic race.

“This," said Biden, "is about celebrity. You’ve never given any of us a chance. You know in your heart I’m more qualified than any of these guys up top. I know you can’t say yes or no, but I know you know.”

He charged that The Times and other newspapers rarely mentioned him in political stories, ensuring his lackluster performance and obscurity. When a reporter suggested that Biden had a chance to make his case to Iowa voters, he shot back that it was a dishonest assertion.

“Don’t be a phony, OK?” he said.

Shortly after that scene, Biden (and Dodd) dropped out of the race. Biden issued this statement:

“I am not going away. I’m returning to the Senate as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and will continue to ensure that we protect the nation’s security and show our country that Democrats know how to keep America safe, keep our commitment to our troops and restore our country’s respect in the world.”

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Kathy SE PA]

Well said L. Sheehan.

The best candidate is no longer running.

[David Donovan]

I agree with most of these comments. If the American public could have been more informed of Joe Biden's experience and knowledge, we could have had a chance to save this country. I believe Mr. Biden would have been one of our best presidents. If only our elections were more about what really matters, than the trivial. I feel the American people were cheated because the media did not give Mr. Biden a fair deal. All we ever heard were things about the "top 3" and hardly anything about a good man with great ideas. After all, if anyone watched the debates..."like Joe said" ..."like Joe said"
over and over from the other candidates...didn't anyone listen...or get it?

The United States has missed a great opportunity to benefit from the life
long experience of this great statesman. As he goes back to his work in the senate, we hope he knows that there are many of us out here who heard him and got what he was saying. God bless you and your family Joe and good luck to you.

[Karen Nichols]

Another problem for Biden last night was the Democratic caucus system in Iowa. A lot more than 1% of Iowans stood up for Joe. (In my caucus, it was at least 10%.) But the way the caucus system works, his support does not get recorded as such because campaigns not passing the viability threshold (17% in my caucus) end up losing their supporters to larger campaigns or to a coalition for an "undecided" delegate. Many supporters of second tier candidates last night left frustrated that all their work got their candidates nothing. Also, the high turnout last night that resulted from so many good candidates pulling in supporters meant that many precincts were more about chaos that dialogue, so campaigns had little chance to win over new converts.

People don't dislike Iowa because it is the first test in the nation, but because it is, for so many candidates, the last. High quality candidates should not be weeded out so early in the process.

Iowa Dems need to switch to the caucus system that the Republicans use: show up, hear someone make a speech for each candidate, vote, sign up if you want to go to the convention, and leave. The final tally would more accurately reflect each candidate's support, providing more info to people in other states about who to pay attention to.

Oh, and Joe is right about that media thing. Candidates need to be assured equal time in the debates. Giving the floor so much to the three candidates with the least experience was ridiculous.

[MAC]

B iden is correct . I have no horse in this race, but I am truly sick and tired of the media dictating who get coverage and whether it will be positive or negative. The media did a hell of a job on Senator Kerry in 2004 and they kept it up when they thought he might run again in 2008. I hate this media infulence on what should be an open and fair elections. Since 2004 this election has been about Clinton and the "rock star" Obama. No one else mattered or was given the time of day. This is corporate America's insurance policy against having a real leader elected president who might put some of the screws the the media giants.
However, what bothers me more is the way gullible people stil buy into the hype and propaganda.
I intend on NOT VOTING FOR THE MEDIA OFFERINGS.

[Robert Stein]

Biden is a living example of what's wrong with today's politics. Refusing to play the Hillary-Rudy-Romney game of pandering from the heart. In Iowa, he ran a tongue-in-cheek ad about the phrase often heard in Democratic debates, "Joe's right," and he has been--about Iraq (after trusting Bush in 2002) and most domestic issues based on more than half a lifetime in Congress.

But he won't be President. Maybe the Democrat who wins will make him Secretary of State.

[Dave Todd]

First, I want to congratulate L. Sheehan, for an especially concise comment. Well said!

That being said, I think it is naive to think that the new candidates will effect any meaningful change once in office. You can probably tell that I am very jaded when it comes to politics in general and specifically Presidential politics. The media has been picking our top 3 candidates for many, many years and it's not about to change. ALL THE CANDIDATES KNOW THIS!

My opinion about Washington politics is this: Candidates (and especially their writers) say exactly what you want to hear, to be elected, then go to Washington and do exactly what the system (lobbyist, committee ranking members, party line, etc) want them to do. You can argue the point, but you will not convince me differently, as I have empirical evidence on my side.

My advice to you , is to continue to pick the candidate YOU feel is most qualified, and sleep soundly with your decision.

Just my opinion.

[Carol]

One more time...."Joe is right." This whole situation makes me sick. Joe Biden is a president to me, no matter what the voters say.

[zoytheboy]

Biden is absolutely correct. From day one the focus has been on the 'inevitability' of Hillary and the 'hope' conveyed by Obama. Look at what happened with Dodd single handedly stopping the Bush administration from giving amnesty to the telecommunications giants. How much time did that get him? Look at Edwards now. He finishes second after being grossly outspent, and all the talk is how he's done. Biden won every debate he was in. He clearly demonstrates superior knowledge of Int. affairs. Would have been a good choice.

[Mark Chapman]

As usual, Joe Biden is speaking honestly and accurately. Obama, Edwards and Hillary were the Chosen Ones by the media four years ago. America was fed a steady diet of the charismatic, bright young black man, the tough, savvy for first lady, and the likeable, intelligent young former senator -- all woefully inexperienced in matters of critical importance to the nation. It was all about the media wish list: the first mainstream party black presidential candidate or the first mainstream party female candidate, with a challenge by a young, good-looking Southerner who was really an afterthought.

It was the same way in the GOP: Romeny, a very expensive, good-looking empty suit, spent 15 minutes running Massachusetts before he was off to run for president. He's a major phony, but he has that Mormon twist; he's from a political family; and he's handsome, like Obama and Edwards. Then there's Rudy the 9/11 guy and McCain, the POW guy. And now there's Huckabee, the minister guy. Hey, the media tried annointing Fred Thompson, the actor, heir to the Reagan legacy, but Freddy couldn't hold up his end of the bargain with a little bit of coherency.

Joe Biden was the most qualified person in either party to step up and make a run. He drew praise regularly from major pundits following debates -- for about five minutes. Then it was back to Hillary and Obama, and, grudgingly, Edwards.

If Biden had been covered like the celebrity candidates, America would have loved him. He would have walked away with the nomination.

[Brian]

When Biden make the decision to plug up his hair and become a human chia pet, he insured that he would never get elected anywhere outside of Delaware.

[Ken]

I stood up for Joe Thursday night in Iowa. He wasn't viable in my group. I walked out instead of joining another candidate. Those groups GOT my message.

Since Thursday I have joined up with www.Unity08.com

[EuroTrash60]

US Presidential elections are nothing more than a popularity contest that fill the media coffers. Until the US weans itself from this awful process, main stream media will keep picking lousy Presidents.

The voices of Biden and Dodd will be sorely missed. And yeah, you "faux journalists" are a bunch of self-serving little *ricks.

[Gene Shemonsky]

Unfortunately, Joe Biden is correct. The media is more interested in making news rather than reporting news. We lost a person who challenges the American public on the important issues that confront us. He takes tough stances but is more of a centrist than others wanting to take charge of this great country.

[june shadle]

I hope Iowa Democrats are happy with their choices. Hillary who will continue the division, Barack who knows nothing due to lack of experience. I would bet McCain or Huckabee will now become President...probably what the media would like considering every time you turn on a "news" program you see those two. Some system! How about writing in Joe Bidens name on your ballot? Really screw the media...it is what they deserve after ignoring the best candidate of all. Wasn't Biden given 6 minutes in a two hour debate? How would you feel with that kind of attention? I would be bitter too and I am. I refuse to watch any news about politics...try it!

[Delicore]

Sad day, now I have to start over. I've been saying for weeks what Joe said it's sad that the "media" can only say 3 names.

[Steve]

Most of the posters above miss the point. Although I agree with Biden, that it was about celebrity, that says more about ovine Democrat voters than it does about the news media. Democrats always blame someone else, the news media in this case. When will the Democrats ever take responsibility for their actions?

There was an inverse relationship between experience and qualifications for the job and how the Democrat candidates fared in Iowa. The least experienced candidates did beter while the most experienced candidates did worse. As a Republican, I thought Joe Biden the best candidate that the Democrats had, even though I disagree with him on most issues.

I've read that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to name their children after celebrities, while Republicans are more likely to name theirs after relatives. If Obama wins the Presidency, prepare for a flood of Baracks showing up in schools in six or seven years.

[Dakota]

It's a shame in America that the media has so much influence deciding who should be our president. Even though Biden has left the race, I will be voting for him in my primary on February 5th.

[VirginiaB]

Joe Bitter: No he did not have the same opportunity,because from the beginning the media portrayed him as a candidate in their opinion who could not win. Folks who did not know Biden well, then did not bother to find out anything about him,because he "couldn't win".....and also then had no reason to contribute to his campaign.. Joe Biden,will be ok personally, but we as a nation have lost our way. Nominating a black president, a woman or an espanic would be absolutely great for this country, but only if they are the most qualified to deal with the problems our country is experiencing now.
And in my humble opinion they are not. They are a PR job sold to the Iowan people caucusing and God Help Us all. Thank God we will still have Joe as the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, to try to help steer them in the right direction. I hope it is enough for everybody to be able to say" We elected our first black president and fullfilled Mr. Kings dream", when we fall the rest of the way over that cliff. It might be surprising to hear what he would think, if he were here today.

[VirginiaB]

Brian: you are a perfect example of what has become of our country,
With possibly our country's very survival as a free nation at stake, all you got from a great statesman like Joe Biden was a stupid,idiotic comment about his hair. I don't give a !@#E$%^&*() if he has any hair if he could get this country out of the mess idiots with a mentality like yours have gotten us into.

[Bill Claassen]

To Karen Nichols from Iowa - I could not have said it better. In our precinct Joe was viable and we did get one delegate as did the top 3. However 4 others did not get their votes counted for who they wanted. All four candidates were viable right away. No second round was needed. these were the totals in the end.
EDW - 19, HRC - 17, OB - 19, Joe - 15. we actually held our ground. But we need to go to a straight vote. When the Governor is so happy about the turnout, how can he be happy so many votes were lost as well as the democratic process that they want to protect? But it was not only those voters who lost, but AMERICA

[Angela]

we still have Ron Paul!! vote for Ron in memory of Biden, Dodd and everyone else that was a real candidate that the Media got rid of for us. DONT let them do it to Ron Paul too! He has 10 terms experience and he'll bring our troops home!

[Rob Stumpf]

Biden and Dodd should have been the frontrunners---in 2004. Failure to step up to the plate when the party needed them is as good a reason as any to look elsewhere for leadership.

But, if Obama wins the nomination, I hope he choses Biden as his running mate.

[Rob Stumpf]

Biden and Dodd should have been the frontrunners---in 2004. Failure to step up to the plate when the party needed them is as good a reason as any to look elsewhere for leadership.

But, if Obama wins the nomination, I hope he choses Biden as his running mate.

[Jenna]

Joe is not right. Sure he has a lot of great qualifications but he also has foot in mouth disease. Let's not forget how he called Obama the first African-American who was articulate and "clean". Or what about when he said,
"you cannot go to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent." He made his own bed and he should stop crying about the media. Politics is a full contact sport and if you can't hang with the big dogs you don't belong. Joe doesn't belong.

[HotguyG]

Joe is not right?? Joe is WRONG! He and his supporter (sic) just cant get that through his elitist pompous stubborn head. He got ZERO support in Iowa from liberal democrats. Of course it's not his fault. Blame the evil press. How does press coverage explain Huckabee?? I saw plenty of pics of Joe in people's living rooms making his case to them. He couldnt convince any of them to support him. Isnt he the guy who called POTUS "Brain Dead"?? Not knowing that you are wrong and that you do not appeal to a single politically informed voter in your own party after months of endless campaigning in "Brain Dead" Good bye Joe and Good Riddance.