Buried By Hillasteria And Obamania
It's curious.
If you ask the reporters who cover politics, especially the Democratic race, many will tell you the people in the contest who are unquestionably qualified are Sens. Joseph Biden of Delaware and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. They each have have a quarter century or more of Washington experience on the major issues of the day.
Biden chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committe. Dodd chairs the Senate Banking Committee. They are two of the most influential panels in Washington. How Biden and Dodd run them and guide legislation to law can make a difference in the lives of millions of people all over the world.
Both men have campaigned tirelessly here in Iowa. They've attended all the debates and shaken thousands upon thousands of hands. Both are strong stump speakers with an ability to rouse a crowd. Dodd has actually moved here with his family, albeit temporarily. The two were parodied on "Saturday Night Live" recently. Being the butt of jokes is better than being ignored altogether, I guess.
Both spoke this weekend to many of the same audiences as the frontrunners, Clinton, Obama and Edwards. The ultra-loquacious Biden told a room full of farmers he admired them, but nonetheless thought they were crazy trying to make a living off the land. How's that for candor?
On Saturday night they were impressive at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner the Democrats here in Iowa sponsor as one of the premier events leading up to the caucuses on Jan. 3.
Essentially, they have done what needs to be done. And yet they remain far behind in this race, barely registering in the polls. Buried in an avalanche of Hillasteria or Obamania. There is a consensus now -- with the caucuses less than two months away -- that Biden and Dodd have almost no chance to break through. Almost none.
So far.
