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| | [[Image:06 biden.gif|thumb|right|200px|Joseph Biden]] | | [[Image:06 biden.gif|thumb|right|200px|Joseph Biden]] |
| | '''Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.''' (born 20 November 1942) is the senior U.S. Senator from [[Delaware]] (representing the state in the [[United States Senate]] since 1972), and a member of the [[Democratic]] Party. He currently serves as the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. | | '''Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.''' (born 20 November 1942) is the senior U.S. Senator from [[Delaware]] (representing the state in the [[United States Senate]] since 1972), and a member of the [[Democratic]] Party. He currently serves as the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. |
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| − | Biden declared his candidacy for [[President]] on January 31, 2007 after months of prior discussions, but later withdrew after the [[Iowa Caucus]].<ref> http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/04/chris-dodd-abandons-presidential-campaign-after-poor-showing-in-iowa/</ref> He is a self-described northeast [[liberal]].
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| | On August 23, 2008, presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate. Biden may help the ticket in three ways: | | On August 23, 2008, presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate. Biden may help the ticket in three ways: |
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| | * Biden was born in [[Pennsylvania]], a must-win state for Obama where he is weak;<ref>Hillary Clinton defeated Obama by a wide margin in the primary; in August polls show Obama leading McCain by an average of only 5.8% [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_mccain_vs_obama-244.html RealClearPolitics Pennsylvania Tracking]</ref> however, Biden's roots are in the rural northeastern part of the state. | | * Biden was born in [[Pennsylvania]], a must-win state for Obama where he is weak;<ref>Hillary Clinton defeated Obama by a wide margin in the primary; in August polls show Obama leading McCain by an average of only 5.8% [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_mccain_vs_obama-244.html RealClearPolitics Pennsylvania Tracking]</ref> however, Biden's roots are in the rural northeastern part of the state. |
| | * Biden's son is going to [[Iraq]], which helps rehabilitate Obama's image as anti-military; however, Biden himself never served. | | * Biden's son is going to [[Iraq]], which helps rehabilitate Obama's image as anti-military; however, Biden himself never served. |
| | + | </blockquote> |
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| | + | Almost immediately after his selection, the conflict between his pro-[[abortion]] position and that of his church surfaced<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS29316+23-Aug-2008+PRN20080823</ref> |
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| | + | <blockquote> |
| | + | :Biden has said: "I am a long-standing supporter of Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose." But Biden's own bishop, Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, Del., has ... denounced the notion that politicians can 'personally oppose' abortion, but refuse to pass laws protecting the unborn. He made clear that pro-abortion Catholic politicians should refrain from receiving the Eucharist: |
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| | + | ::"The promotion of abortion by any Catholic is a grave and serious matter. Objectively, according to the constant teaching of the Scriptures and the |
| | + | Church, it would be more spiritually beneficial for such a person to refrain |
| | + | from receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I ask Catholics in this position |
| | + | to have the integrity to respect the Eucharist, Catholic teaching and the |
| | + | Catholic faithful." |
| | </blockquote> | | </blockquote> |
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| | == Presidential Campaign == | | == Presidential Campaign == |
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| − | Joseph Biden entered the race for the 2008 election to the White House on January 31, 2007. His first steps at going into the presidential campaign were overshadowed by his comments about other candidates. He ran on his foreign policy experience and credentials. On November 15, 2007, during the CNN presidential debate "This is not about experience. It's not about change. It's about action. Who among us is going to be able to, on Day 1, step in and end the war?". Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on January 3, after coming 5th in the Iowa caucus, receiving only 1% of the votes.
| + | Biden declared his candidacy for [[President]] on January 31, 2007 after months of prior discussions, but later withdrew after the [[Iowa Caucus]].<ref> http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/04/chris-dodd-abandons-presidential-campaign-after-poor-showing-in-iowa/</ref> He is a self-described northeast [[liberal]]. His first steps at going into the presidential campaign were overshadowed by his comments about other candidates. He ran on his foreign policy experience and credentials. On November 15, 2007, during the CNN presidential debate "This is not about experience. It's not about change. It's about action. Who among us is going to be able to, on Day 1, step in and end the war?". Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on January 3, after coming 5th in the Iowa caucus, receiving only 1% of the votes. |
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| | Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a [[Catholic]] with blue-collar roots, a generally [[liberal]] voting record and a reputation as a long-winded orator. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/veepstakes] | | Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a [[Catholic]] with blue-collar roots, a generally [[liberal]] voting record and a reputation as a long-winded orator. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/veepstakes] |