Biden Reacts to Bhutto Assassination
From CBS News' Allison O'Keefe:
DES MOINES, IOWA -- Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., responded to the death of Benazir Bhutto saying that this was a "terrible day for Pakistan and the Bhutto family."
Biden said he spoke with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice briefly this morning suggesting that the U.S. should lend some of the FBI's forensic strength to Pakistan.
During the press conference, Biden was repeatedly asked if Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was responsible - he would not answer or comment saying that he did not have enough information to make that judgment.
He did specifically say that he was NOT calling for Musharraf to step down -- his Democratic challenger, Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., has called for him to step down.
Biden said that he was speaking out today as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and that he had a hard time separating his "personal relationship" with Bhutto with that of his candidacy.
"I would be holding this press conference in Delaware... I would be holding it if I were not a candidate."
Biden said that Bhutto had "overwhelming optimism" and was a "truly courageous woman."
DES MOINES, IOWA -- Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., responded to the death of Benazir Bhutto saying that this was a "terrible day for Pakistan and the Bhutto family."
Biden said he spoke with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice briefly this morning suggesting that the U.S. should lend some of the FBI's forensic strength to Pakistan.
During the press conference, Biden was repeatedly asked if Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was responsible - he would not answer or comment saying that he did not have enough information to make that judgment.
He did specifically say that he was NOT calling for Musharraf to step down -- his Democratic challenger, Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., has called for him to step down.
Biden said that he was speaking out today as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and that he had a hard time separating his "personal relationship" with Bhutto with that of his candidacy.
"I would be holding this press conference in Delaware... I would be holding it if I were not a candidate."
Biden said that Bhutto had "overwhelming optimism" and was a "truly courageous woman."
