A mostly silent Biden arrives in Denver: The Swamp

Posted August 25, 2008 2:45 PM

by John McCormick

DENVER - Sen. Joseph Biden has never been known for being short on words, but that was before he was named Sen. Barack Obama's running mate last weekend.

As he made his first public appearance here Monday - at a downtown barbeque stand - the Delaware senator had nothing to say to a gaggle of about 50 reporters, photographers and sound technicians who followed his every move.

"Hey, everybody," Biden shouted outside Boney's Smokehouse on the 16th Street Mall.

He arrived just after noon local time, in time to make midday news shows in a battleground state Democrats desperately want to win this fall.

Wearing a blue shirt and blue blazer, Biden ordered five pulled pork sandwiches and one glass of lemonade for himself and family members traveling with him. His posse included his wife, two sons, a daughter and a brother.

Several hundred people gathered near Writer's Square, as word of a Biden arrival spread. Some called co-workers in nearby office towers to inform them of the pending visit.

Biden shook hands and posed for a few photos, but took no questions from reporters.

He kissed the hand of Susan Rutt, 59, once he learned that she was from Pennsylvania and president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women. Asked whether she liked the kiss, Rutt, of Allentown, Pa., had no hesitation: "Yes, I did."

Rutt and another convention delegate, Michele Bortner, 53, of York, Pa., just happened to be walking by when the crowd formed. When Bortner told Biden she was from Pennsylvania, he pronounced his hometown of Scranton the way he said locals do.

"He's our third senator," Bortner said after she shook hands with Biden. That is a sentiment Obama's campaign hopes is strongly felt in battleground Pennsylvania.

Trina Lynch, the smokehouse owner, said her stand had been notified this morning about the stop and told to have some turkey legs ready for "someone important."

Before flying to Denver this morning, Biden made a stop at the Amtrak station in Wilmington, Del., a station he often uses for his commute to Washington, D.C.

The Obama campaign has kept Biden's profile low since he appeared with the presumptive nominee Saturday in Springfield, Ill.

On Sunday, Biden attended church in Delaware and has also been working through the transition to being a vice presidential candidate, including dealing with Secret Service and getting a speech written for his convention appearance Wednesday night.

Campaign sources say Obama's top strategist, David Axelrod, has been spending considerable time with Biden to help him make the transition and learn the campaign's message points.

David Wade, Biden's traveling press secretary, was not available to answer questions at the retail stop in downtown Denver.

Comments

What can Biden say? He told a national Meet the Press audience he did not want to be vice president and would only do so if asked the leading candidate. Biden is really the guy who doesn't want to be there, and from his own personal views, has a low opinion of Obama. Mark this down in the forthcoming book, "How to lose a slam dunk presidential election."

Posted by: SS | August 25, 2008 3:18 PM

SS,
You conservatives just don't quit do you. Negative, negative, negative, attack, attack, attack. Wow. I seriously doubt Biden has a low opinion of Obama as you say.

Posted by: Mr Face | August 25, 2008 3:53 PM

SS, Most conservatives have a low opinion of McCain. He seems to be repeating the Bush mantra of spend and borrow from China. Fiscal conservatives rejected that in 2006. Please John, go back to your ideals.

Posted by: pd | August 25, 2008 4:11 PM

Keeping his mouth shut is points for Obama-

Posted by: George | August 25, 2008 5:07 PM

If Biden didn't the VP slot he would not have allowed himself to be vetted. He would have stayed in the Senate or hoped for a cabinet post. Of course, he wanted the spot and he will be a great campaigner. The guy is competent, smart, and authentic.

Posted by: xargaw | August 25, 2008 5:50 PM

Biden has really helped Obama...NOT! McCain continues to rise in the Gallup Poll to tie Obama at 45 percent. "The latest Gallup Poll update includes two days of interviewing following Obama's selection of Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate, and neither day showed an improved performance for Obama. Thus, Obama does not appear to have gotten the same type of immediate vice presidential bounce as have presidential candidates in recent years." No wonder the Republicans are so thrilled with the Biden choice. Obama flubs again.

Posted by: Lefkovitz | August 25, 2008 6:16 PM

Posted by: Lefkovitz | August 25, 2008 6:17 PM

Maybe Biden is silent because he just another DC politican with his sone Hunter the lobbyist and his son Joe Jr the preisent of a hedge fund. I guess he doesn't want the Move-On folks to find out about this.

Posted by: Terry | August 25, 2008 10:55 PM

What's going on " Leftkovitz ", you bend the truth, often enough, and people will believe you!!? Could you be a hold-over from the last two elections, because in this election, that nonsense will be disproved !!! Why don't you try a new approach: Debate the issues, instead of some fantasy !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | August 26, 2008 12:49 AM