Sen Joe Biden Declares Candidacy for 2008 Presidency, Criticizes Bush Iraq Policies

Today on CBS' "Face the Nation," Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) declared that he intends to run for the presidency in 2008. Said Biden, "My intention now is to seek the nomination." Biden is the first Democrat to clearly announce his intentions to seek the 2008 Democratic nomination

Senator Biden is an outspoken critic of Bush policies in Iraq. He told CBS host Bob Schieffer this morning that that the administration is "not telling the truth" about Iraq. He contradicted recent reassuring statements by Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when he stated that the Iraq insurgency has "gotten a lot worse" and is "nowhere in the last throes."

Senator Biden is a six-term member of the US Senate, a moderate Democrat and a talented negotiator who has played a significant long-term role in shaping US security and foreign relations policies. He's the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee and chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee for eight years.

Blogger TalkLeft is unimpressed, and writes....

"He won't get our support. Here's his voting record on issues of import:
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 36% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion. (Dec 2003)"

I think highly of Senator Biden's proven ability to bridge bipartisan policy gaps and the broad appeal of his moderate stances, and am impressed by his campaign ebullience and essential charisma. He's an energetic leader and gifted politician.

Be sure to read up on my profile of US Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware.