Opinion: Biden makes his case

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Joe Biden got a moment in the political spotlight Sunday --- a star turn on ABC’s ‘This Week’ news show --- and he sought to make the most of it with one especially blunt answer.

Asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos who was more qualified to be commander in chief, himself or the Democratic presidential frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, Biden replied without hesitation: ‘Me, by a long shot.’

He went on: ‘And the reason I say ‘by a long shot’ --- I think she’s a very qualified person. But I’ve been doing this for 34 years of my life. My recommendations ... whether it’s been on Bosnia or Afghanistan or the Middle East, have been more on target and correct than anyone running, in either political party thus far.’

This, in a soundbite, is what the Delaware senator’s White House candidacy is all about: his utter conviction that foreign-policy savvy and skill will be paramount for the next president and his complete confidence that he’s the one who best meets that requirement.

For a more detailed look at the Biden campaign, check out this morning’s story by Times reporter Robin Abcarian. In the article, he was candid when discussing his short-lived and short-circuited White House campaign 20 years ago. ‘I didn’t deserve to be president,’ he told Abcarian while stumping in Iowa. ‘I wasn’t mature enough.’

There are few obvious signs that Biden is catching on at the moment. He remains stuck in single digits in the polls (he was at 5% in last week’s LA Times/Bloomberg survey) and his fundraising for the period ending June 30 no doubt will be paltry compared to the cash raked in by Clinton and Barack Obama.

But in making his case Sunday, he cited a Times article by Michael Finnegan that probed a worrisome sign for Democrats that several polls have found. On the one hand, most voters say they want a Democrat rather than a Republican to win the 2008 election. Yet in specific matchups, Clinton, in particular, often trails the top GOP contenders.

Biden told Stephanopoulos that as his party’s rank-and-file focuses more intently on the campaign, they are ‘going to be looking for someone who can win. I believe I can demonstrate, in Iowa, that I’m the one who can win.’

By the way, senator, we appreciate the plug.

You can watch Biden’s ABC interview here.

-- Don Frederick