Dodd and Biden - old friends on the campaign trail

Interesting comparison between upper tier and lower tier candidates:


Biden said he and Dodd are “old school.” It’s a group where the membership is waning, Biden said, but includes stalwart senators like Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts or Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

Biden talks about the time last April, when the two waited in a South
Carolina airport terminal for a delayed flight. They had just finished a
debate and were rushing back to Washington for an important Senate vote, Biden said.

They looked out the window to watch Sen. Hillary Clinton’s jet take off. It was followed by Sen. Barack Obama’s, and Gov. Bill Richardson’s.
“We’re thinking, ‘Don’t you think they’d invite us on the plane to get a ride back?’ ” Biden said. “Chris looked at me and I said, ‘Chris, if I had that plane, do you think I’d leave this airport without you in the plane?’ ”

It’s not a criticism, Biden said, it’s just the way things work.

“That’s what I mean about old school,” he said. “I would no more let someone sit in that airport if I knew it. And by the way, they probably didn’t know. And we just sit there and laugh. Here we are trying to make the same vote they’re making, and we have to wait five hours to get on a plane.”

The two have more than once shared a chartered jet on trips to Iowa to stay within campaign budgets that are miniscule compared to those of the front-runners. It’s a place where the two share their frustration.

Dodd recalls a time when he and Biden chartered a “little prop plane” from Washington to New Hampshire, and saw planes used by other well-financed candidates that he described as “21st century rocket ships.”

“It’s a pretty graphic example of what can happen,” Dodd said. “If money and celebrity become the way in which we nominate people, than the country is in for some rough times.”

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/NEWS09/71126053/0/NEWS09

It all comes down to the $.

I wonder if we'll ever see campaign finance reform in our lifetime.

With a few exceptions which are always there. They are taking votes away from each other. If one of them happened to drop out, the other would get those votes.

here in last years gov race. the rethug (beauprez) had a two jets (one on loan from the sitting rethug gov.) he flew around to debates and everywhere else. (he could land) where as our current gov (Ritter)rode around in a bus. at every bathroom break, at every fuel stop and at every food stop was an opportunity to campaign. The Voters saw and appreciated this. and Ritter won by 8pm on election night. not a landslide but more of a river of votes. It goes to show whom represents the Common People.

That is reassuring.

This speaks volumes to Biden & Dodd's character.

It sickens me how much money is spent on these campaigns. Think of the good that could be done with it.

said he would insist on public financing, if he were to become president.

Are the frontrunners really too good to share their planes?
And, what about global warming? Aren't we suppose to be looking for ways to cut down on fuel consumption?

Dodd said it all "“If money and celebrity become the way in which we nominate people, than the country is in for some rough times.”

:(

sadly, not money for Dodd.

Really, it hurts me :cry:

What a great story to read after watching MSNBC/Faux/CNN this morning spewing crap about Clinton/Obama/Edwards all fighting with each other.

On Edit:

The title of the article in the paper is "Camaraderie on the Campaign Trail" much nicer than the on-line title.

I had to turn it off...really makes me sick....I am so tired of all the fighting, slamming, back and forth, back and forth....

It says more and has more of an impact.

It breaks my heart. But it definitely speaks volumes about Joe and Chris.

I'm going to share this article with people I know...

of the two senior statesmen sitting in an airport, while the "stars" ride off him their shiny private jets! Shows a lack of common courtesy among people who are supposed to be colleagues.

Why aren't these guys leading in the polls with Obama and Hillary in the single digits?? Hillary's foreign policy positions are simply unacceptable and Obama has virtually zero relevant experience. They have no business leading in the polls. Our country is WAY too fucked up right now to vote solely on the basis of being able to vote for a woman or minority for president. Sure, I'd vote to vote for a woman or minority for president. But not right now when these two are said woman and minority.

We need a POTUS who can fix this gigantic mess that W is leaving behind. I don't believe Obama *can* fix it and I don't honestly believe Hillary won't just make it worse.

And I can't comprehend how any DUer who is even half awake could possibly support either Obama or Hillary over these truly qualified candidates.

It's all about money.

what a bittersweet story, with bitter being the dominant taste...

the MSM media's ignoring them speaks volumes of the pathetic state of journalism.

Perhaps they need a stunt to get some attention -- Britney, Paris, and Sanjaya, can you help?! :P

for them and the front runners. The people of Iowa aren't fooled too easily.

Biden had a very good interview yesterday on the Newshour, btw. If he was more concerned about the climate crisis, he would turn my head.

Have you read his plan?

http://www.joebiden.com/issues/?id=0011

People don't realize that he is about more than foreign affairs.

Liked that plan. Really liked it. I will have to take another look at Joe. Have spent the better part of two decades disliking the man for the Clarence Thomas appointment. Guess its time to move on from that.