Biden Officially Announces White House Run

But Controversial Remarks About Obama, Others May Overshadow Delaware Democrat's Entry Into Race

(CBS/AP)  Sen. Joe Biden spent his first day as an official presidential candidate explaining why he had described Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama as "clean," and why he had dissed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards.

The six-term Delaware lawmaker, who has said for months he'd be a candidate in 2008, formally establish his presidential committee Wednesday and launched a campaign Web site. It's the second presidential bid for Biden, who pursued the White House in 1988.

But in a conference call with reporters to discuss his candidacy, Biden was peppered with questions about remarks he made to the New York Observer, a weekly newspaper.

In the article, published Wednesday, Biden harshly criticized Clinton and Edwards for their proposals to end the Iraq war. He also questioned the credentials of another leading candidate, first-term Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, while calling him "a mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean."

Biden told reporters that he'd used the word "clean" to describe Obama as "fresh and new," and that the choice of words was not meant to disparage other black candidates who'd run for president in the past, such as civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Obama, Biden said, "is probably the most exciting candidate the Democratic or Republican parties have produced since I've been around. He's fresh, new, smart, insightful. Lightning in a jar."

Biden also said he'd called Obama after the controversy surfaced to patch things up.

"He said, 'Joe, I knew what you meant,"' Biden said.

At a Washington news conference earlier in the day, Obama said: "You'd have to ask ... Senator Biden what he was thinking." But an Obama aide confirmed the two senators did speak later in the day.

"Senator Obama said that he didn't take the comment personally," spokesman Tommy Vietor said. But in a statement, CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports, Obama defended previous African-American presidential candidates. "Jesse Jackson, Shirley Chisolm, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton gave a voice to many important issues ... And no one would call them inarticulate," the statement said.

Biden's misstep instantly became big news on the Internet, Borger reports, and became the latest example of just how dangerous a place the Web can for candidates.

Biden was also grilled about comments he made regarding proposals offered by Clinton and Edwards to stabilize the situation in Iraq.

A 34-year Senate veteran known for his foreign policy expertise, Biden called Clinton's proposal — which would cap American troops and threatens to cut funding to Iraqi security forces — "nothing but disaster." He also criticized Edwards, who has proposed immediately removing 40,000-50,000 U.S. troops from Iraq.

"I don't think John Edwards knows what the heck he is talking about," Biden said.

Pressed to explain, Biden reiterated his claim that his rivals' Iraq plans were a mistake. He also said that while the Democratic field has a number of well-qualified contenders, he was the best qualified to serve as president.

"I believe I'm the best prepared of all the candidates," he said. "That I can say someone is qualified but can't take issue with their ideas is a strange phenomenon."

Known for his windy oratory and habit of thinking out loud, Biden's mouth has gotten him into trouble before. Sources close to Biden told Borger they've warned him about his big mouth.

Last July, he defended his remark that "you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent." Biden said his words had been taken out of context.

And as a candidate for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, Biden withdrew from the race in 1987 amid accusations that he had plagiarized passages in a campaign speech from former British Labor Party leader Neil Kinnock.

Asked whether his verbosity would be a handicap on the campaign trail, Biden demurred.

"That's for voters to decide. I don't see it as a problem," he said.

In a video message posted on his new campaign Web site, www.joebiden.com, Biden criticized President Bush's conduct of the Iraq war and warned that his successor would have no margin for error in resolving the conflict.

"This administration's mishandling of the war in Iraq may be the greatest foreign policy disaster of our times," Biden said. "The next president ... is going to have to be prepared to immediately step in and act without hesitation to end our involvement in Iraq."

Biden voted in 2002 to authorize military intervention in Iraq but has since become a vocal critic of the conflict. He's also proposed a plan for peace in Iraq that would divide the country along ethnic lines.

Biden also spoke of a number of domestic challenges he hoped to tackle as president, including health care, boosting job and retirement security, and tackling the threat of global warming.

Biden will transfer $3 million from his Senate account to his presidential campaign, and said he believed he needed to raise $20 million total to be competitive in next year's early primaries. Analysts believe Clinton and Obama are likely to raise $100 million each this year.

[tibu987]

I would enter the race for Prez myself but I don't want to be in the company of such arrogant megalomaniacs.
This race is getting to be quite unfunny with all the sleazeballs coming out.
The swollen heads of those pols in Washington is just too much. They're making Hillary look better all the time and that takes some doing.

[dallison7]

Biden is the worst kind of bigot. Remember the 7-11 comments denegrating middle easterners from 6 weeks ago? Now the blacks.
Posted by mbcsmith

Sorry bud. Swiftboat tactics own't work this time. I know that is wll the neocons have, but it's been worn out.

[gunownerdan]

Biden is just another anti-gun libnazi like Hillary and Barack.

[mbcsmith]

Biden is the worst kind of bigot. Remember the 7-11 comments denegrating middle easterners from 6 weeks ago? Now the blacks.

[gkc99]

"The liberal media"?--no, neocons, it's your own nasty incompetence that has finally bubbled to the surface, despite the servile compliance of that same "media". You can only sweep the catshit under the rug so many times until it starts to smell.

[thisandthat1]

Joe Biden has never and will never be close to being elected President. The reason ... his own arrogance!

[lieberman18]

Hail to the chief plagarizer and Democratic Coward supporter.

Too bad, though Plagarizer, it will probably either be Shrew andor Steppin'.

[firemandav1]

Excuse me Janem4 but you brought up the whole media bias thing. The fact of the matter is that the media will throw anyone under the bus Republican or Democrat if it will get them ratings. You are right, the juicer and more salacious the scandal the better. Media bias is a myth. 24 hour news DEMANDS scandal for ratings not political gain and the old time balancing of public interest with carefully researched stories are almost extinct. 60 minutes and NOW are about the only responsible programs remaining. Do they make mistakes? Yes, but rarely. And by the way, the media made those "Clinton women" Stars! Each one cashed in nicely. The country would have been done a great service if the 'news' had stayed out of people's private lives. The only crime was Clinton's lie to the Grand Jury under oath. Otherwise, all were consenting adults. Don't worry you always have Sean Hannity to keep you war.

[bildooreilly]

I don't like Obama or Biden or HIllary or giuliani, or mccain, or bush or clinton or their daddy pappy...

But it's obvious the only people making "racial overtones" here are the media.

[cantshutup]

THE DRAFT IS HERE. Universal Nat'l Service Act of 2007.
NOT TO ALARM YOU OR ANYTHING. Just passing this along.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/
query/z?c110:H.R.393:

Universal National Service Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)
HR 393 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 393
To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the favorable treatment afforded combat pay under the earned income tax credit, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2007

[heartlight3]

When I read Senator Biden's remarks about Senator Obama, I thought he was referring to the fact that he has not been contaminated by the corruption in Washington. I guess people can find something to be offended about in almost anything if that is what they are looking for.

[nothappyatall]

Its so that you can't even comment about someone any more without some other jackarse taking offense at what THEY think is "racial" overtones, Biden said Obama was "clean and articulate" what the he11 does anyone see with THAT??

Clean and articulate- compared to that idiot BUSH! He was referencing a Presidential candidate, in that context compared to the krap we have in the White House Obama IS clean and articulate.

[firemandav1]

janem4,

Where was the liberal media bias during:
Gennifer Flowers
Paula Whats-her-name?
Whitewater,
The Monica Lewinsky Scandal,
Bosnia-Serb-Kosovo (Remember Clinton was "wagging the dog"?
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

Do you think it is by accident all the above are so well known by most people? Could it have been the vast and mighty media liberal bias that so entrenched these things in people's minds????

[j-whitman]

Listening to you people every time a dem announces they are running,,, You't think everyone is dishonest except Bush.

[frb01]

Biden talks too much and always has. Like I have said before we are a long way to election day, and there will be more, not necessarily from him. I know he has a personal tragedy from years ago, when his wife was killed in an accident and he raised his sons, that is the personal story that he needs to tell America, and not get caught up in this side show that he has created before.

[j-whitman]

How many times has Walking Liar Bush stuck his foot in his mouth ??? I'm voting for Biden

[frankly6]

janem4

The so-called "liberal media" ate Kerry for lunch when he was quoted out of context.

[processor2]

YAWN

....

[Syndicate]

I like Biden always kind of have probably because he is a "Joke" with liberals. I like Obama too. which is wierd since I have no idea were he stands. Guess I just like the story so far. Right now Biden is my front runner among the Democrats. Second choice is probably Richardson. Last choice would be Hillary.

[dallison7]

WOW!! Listen to all the blather. I didn't know the neocons hated Biden so much!