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Strategists shiver at prospect of Biden's speech

BY BART JONES | bart.jones@newsday.com

August 27, 2008

For some strategists, the most dangerous speech of the Democratic convention is the one Joe Biden will deliver tonight.

That is because Biden - long known as something of a loose cannon with his off-the-cuff comments - might throw the convention off its message of unity.

"I don't think he needs to come off as an angry, middle-aged white man" attacking John McCain and George W. Bush, said Michael Dawidziak, a Bohemia-based GOP political consultant. "This is the one [speech] that could derail the good feeling of unity."

But other strategists believe Biden has no choice but to go on the offensive and paint in no uncertain terms the differences between GOP nominee McCain and Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

"The Republican attack machine is in full gear and they [the Democrats] have to fight back," said former Suffolk County executive Patrick Halpin, a Democrat. "Obama needs someone who is going to mix it up on his behalf."

Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf called Biden "the hit man from Delaware" and said he was named Obama's vice-presidential candidate precisely to lead the offensive against McCain.

Biden must make other points in his speech if he wants it to succeed, experts said. As head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he must stress his expertise in international affairs to shore up doubts about Obama's perceived lack of experience. He must also drive home his own working-class background and convince people that Obama can connect with blue-collar workers.

Halpin and Sheinkopf also said Biden must tap into his roots as a Roman Catholic, since Catholics - especially male Catholics - will play a decisive role in the election.

While Biden is considered a "regular guy," as Halpin put it, he is also one of the most powerful figures in the U.S. Senate and brings his own personal story to the campaign.

Elected in 1972 at age 29, he became the fifth-youngest senator in U.S. history. Weeks after the election, his wife and 13-month-old daughter were killed by a drunken driver. His two sons also were injured in the accident. Biden was sworn in as senator at their hospital bedside.

An also-ran in this year's presidential campaign, he got into trouble when he clumsily praised Obama as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."

Tonight's main speaker Joe Biden

Early life: Born in 1942 in Scranton, Pa., Biden moved with his family to Claymont, Del., when he was 10 years old.

Family: His late father, Joe Biden Sr., was a car salesman who left Scranton for better job opportunities in Delaware's Philadelphia suburbs. Biden's 92-year-old mother, Jean, lives with him and his wife. Biden's first wife, Neilia, died along with their daughter Naomi in a car accident in 1972. He married Jill Jacobs in 1977.

Education: He holds degrees from the University of Delaware and the Syracuse University College of Law.

Professional life: In 1969, a year after graduating from law school, he was elected to the New Castle County Council in Delaware. Three years later, he won the first of his six terms in the U.S. Senate.

Children: Sons Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III and Hunter; daughter Ashley.