Biden: Race Is About Ideas, Not Money

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden said Monday that the race for the White House is more about ideas than the huge amounts of money being raised by many of the other candidates.

Biden said voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada — states that will cast the first votes of the nominating season next year — are looking for a knowledgeable candidate who can lead the country.

"I am absolutely convinced that this is about ideas, and it's not about money," he told about 900 people at the Delaware Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner. Money and prestige have dominated the race so far, he said, but ideas will matter.

Biden has represented the state in the Senate for nearly 35 years, and is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He is considered a knowledgeable voice on international relations, and has been pushing a plan to end the conflict in Iraq by carving the country into three distinct states, with a central government located in Baghdad.

He may have ideas, but it's money he lacks.

Biden said the idea of a candidate raising $85 million to $90 million is "astounding," but that he still considered it a level playing field in the early primary states. He said those voters care what a candidate has to say.

Biden said the next president's term will determine whether America "regains its footing and reinvigorates the middle class or continues on this spiral that this administration has put us into."

"The American people know that this president has dug us into a very, very deep hole," Biden said.

"I am not on a fool's errand; I realize I need your help," said Biden, who predicted that the top three finishers in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 will live to fight on, while the others will cease to be viable candidates.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i7K20RiBJeMQhhTZUST64ABObHjAD8SJ9I200

There is no way any candidate can really compete with the "top tier" candidates without the money. And the only way to get to the "top tier", IMHO, is to have the money.

So what do we do now?

Thanks for posting this gateley....

:hi:

will turn a lot of people off and of course we can contribute to his campaign as well. This election will be different in that the Internet is really playing a big role. More and more people get their news and opinions online as the the MSM has become a big disappointment.

need $$$ in order to be heard. I'll say it again - it's just not right. :thumbsdown:

Our society is besotted on money.

If greed is good, then we must be a great nation, indeed.

The campaign so far has been a reflection of our twisted values.

you were unable to sweet talk a woman into bed.

politics IS like sex.

of exposure to potential candidates who would serve this country well. The "anybody can grow up to become POTUS" needs the qualifier --
"if s/he has the money". Isn't that sad?

I AM encouraged by the growing interest not only in Biden, but Dodd, Richardson and Kucinich, too. And look at Ron Paul. These are indications that Joe is right - people ARE listening. I'm not giving up! :hi:

I don't mean this as an insult (I like Dodd, and my dislike for Biden has to do with his Bankruptcy Bill, not his lobbyist money) but as a clarification.

it's almost like they're token throw-away contributions, just in case... Not enough to exert influence by any means.