Biden, Dodd Drop Out Of Democratic Race

Senators Were Never Able To Generate Broad Support In Presidential Bids

(AP)  Delaware Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd abandoned their bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in the state's caucuses.

"Tonight I am withdrawing from the presidential race but let me assure you, we are not ending this race with our heads hanging but with our heads held high," Dodd told about 100 supporters here.

"I am not going anywhere," he added, to loud cheers. "I will be fighting for the United States."

"There is nothing sad about tonight. We are so incredibly proud of you all," Biden told his supporters. "So many of you have sacrificed for me and I am so indebted to you. I feel no regret. I ain't goin' away.

"I want to thank the people of Delaware and I'll be going back to the Senate as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee," he said.

The veteran lawmaker received less than 1 percent of the vote despite a spirited campaign in which he emphasized his international policy credentials and long career in public service.

Dodd was never able to break from the pack of Democratic contenders despite his long and distinguished Senate career. He won just 0.02 percent of the state's caucus-goers. He even had taken the drastic step of moving his family to Iowa weeks before the caucuses.

"I am very, very disappointed," said Eva Bunnell, from East Haddam, Conn., who came to Iowa to volunteer for Dodd. "If the people had the opportunity to get to know him and look at his record more closely, they would see he's a great man."

John Feller, from Des Moines said: "I am sad. Very sad."

It's a case of deja vu for Biden, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination 20 years ago - in 1988 - but left the race before the Iowa caucuses that year amid accusations that he had plagiarized from speeches by a British Labor Party leader.

Biden campaigned extensively in Iowa, focusing his pitch on his plans for ending the Iraq war and the broad foreign policy experience he gained from decades in the Senate. Biden also noted the many time his rivals acknowledged that they agreed with him.

His advisers had hoped for a fourth-place finish and thought even third place was possible.

[starleo146]

What a shame, I also thought Biden was the best choice on the Dem side. Now it''''s down to the least best choices. So, going forward, it is a sure sign a Republican will win.

Posted by jack3213 at 08:56 AM

Now who is lying. The day you root for any democrat is a day the moon will turn to green cheese

[starleo146]

how many obstructionist liars do you need ... there''''s already a whole administration of them in the white house now.

Posted by bobnjersey at 11:59 AM : Jan 04, 2008
+ rep

So true couldn''t have said it better myself and all these people The Republicans are against everything and the Democrats are for and the people want a change and they have demonstrated that in the last election and the republicans are going to learn it is the people that run this country and when you exclude them and concentrate only on big money you will see how this country will go down as it is now the poor and middle class run this country take them away and you will pay as you will in November.We will have a democrat in office.I do not know if I spell her name right but Mary Mattilin who presently works for Darth Vader is also running Fred Thompson''s campaign give me a break

[starleo146]

[Biden was the best candidate by far and virtually untouchable by the Repugnants. He won just about every question he was asked in the debates and had better answers and better plans for every single issue facing americans.]
[Posted by ov442 at 08:47 AM : Jan 04, 2008]

that pretty much excludes him from serious consideration. the system is terribly broken and there''''s no sign it''''s about to be fixed anywhere on the horizon.

look at who was ''''selected'''' in the last two elections ... a babbling illiterate moron who can''''t construct an intelligable sentence without assistance.

Posted by bobnjersey at 12:03 PM : Jan 04

You are right Biden was the best and the media and the debates were concentrating on the top 3 and never considered once Biden I really liked him but he will be in the cabinet I bet.Do you see how the media gets into this election take the debates who is asking the questions? so they are trying to rule this election and they need to get out of it, they ruined the last two by going with there Bush and influencing the elections.

[ov442]

Bob yer right. I used to live in jersey. good state. well... parts of it.

I think Biden got out too soon. That screw Iowa caucus system where they determine viability or not doesnt count true votes, and encourages deals to be made that end up having voters vote for 2nd or 3rd choices. So Biden would have done much better if they just counted votes instead.
I think he has solid support and it would have grown yet if the debate field was whittled down. He polls higher than Richardson in Florida and does well in Nevada. the guy had 16 Iowa state legislators, 4 newspapers, and 3 party commissioners endorse him. He could have had a much bigger impact if nothing else.

[bobnjersey]

[Biden was the best candidate by far and virtually untouchable by the Repugnants. He won just about every question he was asked in the debates and had better answers and better plans for every single issue facing americans.]
[Posted by ov442 at 08:47 AM : Jan 04, 2008]

that pretty much excludes him from serious consideration. the system is terribly broken and there''s no sign it''s about to be fixed anywhere on the horizon.

look at who was ''selected'' in the last two elections ... a babbling illiterate moron who can''t construct an intelligable sentence without assistance.

[bobnjersey]

[So, going forward, it is a sure sign a Republican will win.]
[Posted by jack3213 at 08:56 AM : Jan 04, 2008]

well ... that will be true if the supreme court gets involved.

[bobnjersey]

[Biden & Dodd??? I didn''''t even know they were still in the race. When we need some good obstructionist liars, we''''ll give you guys a call.]
[Posted by Infidel_Us at 10:32 AM : Jan 04, 2008]

how many obstructionist liars do you need ... there''s already a whole administration of them in the white house now.

[nolalou]

jack3213, you think the fact the Biden or Dodd will not be the Democratic Party candidate for President is a sure sign the Republican''s will win? With who? Huckabee? Give me a break!

[infidel_us]

Biden & Dodd??? I didn''t even know they were still in the race. When we need some good obstructionist liars, we''ll give you guys a call.

[jack3213]

What a shame, I also thought Biden was the best choice on the Dem side. Now it''s down to the least best choices. So, going forward, it is a sure sign a Republican will win.

[ov442]

im depressed now. Biden was the best candidate by far and virtually untouchable by the Repugnants. He won just about every question he was asked in the debates and had better answers and better plans for every single issue facing americans. In the End, Money Bought Iowa voters, and common sense failed to prevail.
Obama has ZERO experience at anything and has no idea how to accomplish any of the lofty dreams he keeps spouting to starry eyed fools. Clinton is the next best qualified, but the Repugs have spent decades with their Lie machine making things up about the clintons (which was proven by the way by a former GOP campaign specialist who admitted it was his job to make things up about the clintons and spread them around). So Hillary has no chance to win. Which means another 4 yrs minimum of Wars, harm to Americans, harm to american soldiers, harm to american families, a horrible economy with no help for the people that need it, but loads of cash selling out america for the rich and evil. yippee

[gunshack1]

Too bad about Biden. I think he was the best of the lot.

[keithle1]

Big surprise. Won''t see Biden running again for President. Outside of Delaware, I don''t think many people care about him. Not much national support. Did Mike Gravel drop out? Why is he still in it?

Nice to see Rudy get killed in Iowa. Duncan Hunter must be planning his exit.

[sgtrds]

I always like Biden and had high hopes for him, but he just never caught fire. Still I think he''d make a wonderful Secretary of Defense or perhaps a UN Ambassador.