Joe Biden Rallies Supporters in Iowa Appearance

Senator Joseph Biden (D, Delaware), running fourth in the Iowa caucus race and gaining momentum, spoke to a crowd of about 150 potential caucus-goers in the Davenport, Iowa, home of Iowa State Senator (Dr.) Joe Seng on Saturday, December 22^nd at noon. The two "Joe(s)" have been personal friends for years, and Seng, a local veteraniarian and long-time Iowa pol, has actively supported Biden since the beginning of the caucus race. Seng also hosted an outdoor gathering at his large home on Tremont Street in Davenport during nicer weather at which both Biden and Edwards appeared, Edwards arriving aboard his Main Street Express bus.

Biden workers passed out literature citing the Senator's work as a strong advocate for women. Television spots now airing in Iowa also play up the Biden Exit Strategy for withdrawal from Iraq, which garnered 75 votes in the Senate and, according to Biden, "overwhelming support" in the House of Representatives. Biden was quite clear about one point, saying, "The military did NOT recommend going into Iraq." Presidential candidates have spent more than $7 million on radio and television time in the Quad Cities market, according to an article in the Moline, Illinois Daily Dispatch that appeared today (12/22). Romney began running his ads in March; Romney and Obama have been the biggest spenders, although Thompson, Richardson, Biden, Edwards and Huckabee have been spending till it hurts, too.

Biden, whose son Beau is serving in Iraq, said, "These kids (soldiers) are incredible. They're brave as hell" and told a story about being asked to accompany a family to claim their son's casket, as it was flown into Dover, Delaware. The current administration has tried very hard to keep the public from becoming more aware of the tragic toll of this conflict in terms of soldiers killed.