Projo Politics Blog

PROVIDENCE -- U.S. Sen. Joe Biden visited Providence's East Side this evening as the Delaware lawmaker with the big smile and gift for gab prepares to run for president. Again.

Biden, a Democrat who has served in the Senate since 1972 and will assume control of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in January, ran for president in 1988 and talked openly about the idea in 2004 before backing out.

The 64-year-old politician briefly addressed the media this evening in a conference room at the law offices of St. Peter and Kasle in Richmond Square before attending a $500-a-head fundraiser in another part of the building. A campaign spokesman didn't know how much the senator expected to raise while in Rhode Island.

"This is maybe the one race where experience is the most important thing," Biden told the media when asked why voters should choose him in 2008. Biden openly touted his credentials.

"I've been in the Senate for a long time. I've known most of the world leaders in power..." he said. "I've served with seven presidents."

And while the resume could have reeked of the arrogance of a career politician, Biden largely kept the mood light.

Why is he the best presidential candidate? "You can't tell just by looking [at me]," Biden joked, flashing the broad smile that often graces the Sunday morning talk shows.

But near the end of his 20-minute media encounter, Biden grew more serious. He warned of the possible escalation of a new cold war in Asia. And he said he's a candidate for people concerned with the country's future and its standing in the world.

"If this becomes an election about social issues...then I'm not going to be the next candidate," he said.

He said he won't change his candid style to appeal to voters. "I'm not sure if my candor was something the public was ready for...years ago," he said.

And before he slipped out of the room, Biden was asked about the plagiarism scandal that forced him out of the 1988 presidential race.

"That's a fair question," he said. "Twenty years ago this happened. Twenty years ago I made a mistake...The fact of the matter is I screwed up. I screwed up."

Biden planned to return to Boston after tonight's fundraiser and attend more events tomorrow morning.

There are more fundraisers planned for New York later tomorrow before the campaign travels to Mississippi, a spokesman said.

-- Projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

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