Biden touts experience in Davenport speech

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By Tom Saul | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 |

While trailing badly in a recent Lee Enterprises poll, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Tuesday that if the race were decided strictly on experience, he would be the clear winner.

With the Iowa caucuses just two days away, Biden touted to about 125 during a New Year’s Day stop in Davenport his long experience in the U.S. Senate, his intimate understanding of foreign affairs and world leaders and his ability to go toe-to-toe with top Republican candidates on a range of issues if he is the eventual Democratic nominee.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the test for this president is crystal clear: Who can take on these guys and who is ready from day one?” Biden said during a visit at the Radisson Quad-City Plaza.

Biden polled just 3 percent among 500 likely caucus goers in the field of eight Democratic contenders in a Lee Enterprises poll published in the Quad-City Times Dec. 29.

Facing a crowd composed largely of those committed to him on caucus night, Biden called President Bush the “worst president we’ve ever had.” He also took shots at top Democratic and Republican contenders who have failed to achieve what he said he has in his 35-year Senate career or who simply offer vague promises of change or hope.

“I’m the only candidate who has offered a concrete plan to end the war,” Biden said of a proposal he claimed has been embraced by majorities in the U.S. House and Senate and by leaders in Iraq and elsewhere around the world.

While his Democratic rivals have been erroneously focused on Iran as the new world trouble spot, he has kept his eye on Pakistan, which he called the most dangerous place on the planet because of its nuclear arsenal, its bent toward radical Islam and its notoriety as the hideout of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

Amanda and Micah Stevenson traveled from Burlington, Iowa, in the frigid cold to see the candidate they both said they intend to caucus for Thursday. Both said they believe his experience in world affairs and acquaintance with world leaders will give him a decided advantage if he wins the Oval Office.

“He is a lot more experienced than any of the other candidates,” said Amanda Stevenson, 23, a school teacher and precinct captain. “I think a lot of people are looking at Barack Obama because of his race or Hillary (Clinton) because she is a woman and they’re not really looking at the issues.”

Charles Cell, 55, of Long Grove, Iowa, said he also has committed to Biden because his qualifications are better than any of the other candidates.

“The others say they are for change, but he has done it,” Cell said. “It’s like my dad use to tell us, ‘Don’t tell me how busy you are, show me what you’ve done.’”

Tom Saul can be contacted at (563)383-2453 or tsaul@qctimes.com.