BREAKING: Sen. Joseph Biden drops out of race for Democratic nomination

[pegleg]

Source: MSNBC

No story yet Just a Headline

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22497443/

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disappointed

[aquart]

1. Buh bye.

[Eurobabe]

2. Can't you be a litte more nice aqart?

Some people are upset about this. :wtf:

[TheWatcher]

18. You want HIM to be nice?

:rofl:

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zhade]

48. Maybe he's one of the ones Biden helped FUCK OVER with the bankruptcy bill.

NT!

[saigon68]

58. Yes I have met some of these SLAVES TO MBNA

[Cooley Hurd]

22. classless...

:eyes:

[saracat]

3. I am so sorry to hear this.he is a good man!

[adadem]

7. Agree n/t

[emilyg]

9. Yes he is. I am sorry, too.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Wow. Really?

I'm surprised. I thought he'd hang in there longer.

[silverojo]

19. Me, too

I really thought he'd do better than he did in Iowa....

[Hissyspit]

5. Article Link:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

January 3, 2008
Biden, Dodd to abandon White House runs
Posted: 11:13 PM ET

Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd will reportedly abandon their campaigns.

(CNN) — Delaware Sen Joe Biden will abandon his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, three sources tell CNN. He is not expected to endorse any other candidate tonight.

A senior campaign aide tells CNN that Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd is abandoning his campaign for president as well — an official announcement is expected shortly.

"I count the past year of campaigning for the presidency as one of the most rewarding in a career of public service. Unfortunately, I am withdrawing from that campaign tonight," Dodd said in an e-mail message sent to supporters tonight.

"But there is no reason to hang our heads this evening — only the opportunity to look towards a continuation of the work we started last January: ending the Iraq War, restoring the Constitution, and putting a Democrat in the White House. … You've been an invaluable ally in the battle, and I'll need you to stick by my side despite tonight's caucus results."

MORE

[maseman]

6. In a way it is good news

Biden and Dodd are bright men and politicians. I am sure they know their odds of winning are slim and maybe they feel their talents can be better used in the Senate focusing on legislation in 2008.

Good run for both of them and the nice thing is both brought out some nice points during the campaign.

[wisteria]

11. Yes, but they would have brought more experience and training into the White House.

They may have been able to do more good there than back in the Senate.

[havocmom]

33. Both great (and NEEDED) focusing on Senate business now

Both great assets to upcoming DEM administration. Both have invaluable experience and areas of expertise which any DEM President would be foolish not to utilize.

Biden at State would go a long way toward healing damage done by cheney & his puppets.

Dodd would be helpful at DOJ, one would think.

But for now, we need good Senators concentrating on the work the Senate needs to get done. THAT would help ANY DEM candidate in the General Election, because America needs to see DEMS turning things around NOW and not just hoping for January 09.

And it is two less horses in a race that sure looks like it will be run on a muddy track for awhile.

[wisteria]

8. What a shame our most experienced candidates are gone.

I would have supported Senator Biden over any of the front runners. These are dangerous times and we need experience along with the change some seem to think is so important.

[BlueIris]

10. Well, it's. About. Time.

Thank you, Senator Biden. Now go away and never come back.

[skipos]

12. I was rooting for Joe, but I'd be happy with Obama or Edwards. Hillary, not so much. nt

[emmadoggy]

13. Aw, I'm sorry to hear this. I thought he would hang on a bit more.

He would be a great person for the eventual nominee to snap up for VP or Secretary of State.

There are a lot of enthusiastic Biden supporters here on DU who will be very upset by this and I'm sorry for all of you who won't get a chance to support him in your states. :-(

[Ediacara]

15. I am too

I didn't think he would end up winning the nomination, but... I thought he'd hang on for a few more weeks at least. Or at least until tomorrow....

[KT2000]

14. How disappointing

He really had the knowledge, experience and broad appeal that could have brought this country together.

[and-justice-for-all]

16. That sucks Joe!!, but you still ROCK!!

:yourock:

[fujiyama]

17. Biden's knowledge of foreign affairs

will certainly be utilized in a Dem administration.

But it was fairly obvious his campaign was not garnering enough excitement or interest.

Either way, Dodd and Biden are both bright politicians. I don't agree with them on everything, but on many issues they have been effective critics of Bush's policies in the Senate.

[stickernation]

21. cabinet !

Biden is such an awesome candidate, and i would love to see him in the Cabinet !!!

He's a guy who has really impressed me with his campaign and attitude. He's a champ and I would believe would be a key asset to our next Democratic President :)

I'm not sure where the derision is coming from? care to explain? am i missing something? is he in on 9-11 or something? for what the "good riddance" energy?

[chknltl]

29. Secretary of State Biden?????

Nice ring to it, I like it! :toast:

[Virginia Dare]

37. Agreed, I think he would be an excellent choice...n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

39. But let's not "loot" the Senate of our most experienced people...

I agree that Biden would be an excellent choice -- But we want to make sure we keep control. We probably will, though.

[Virginia Dare]

40. True, and the "looting" needs to be done in very safe states..n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

42. And I would think that CT and DE qualify

Still, both Dodd and Biden know how to get things done!

[JerseygirlCT]

52. Not while CT has a Rep. governor

We'd get another Republican, to match Joe Lieberman.

Chris Dodd needs to stay in the senate!

[Greeby]

23. Crying-ass shame he and Dodd are bowing out so early

would like to see more of a real contest instead of the Three Monkeys Media-approved horse race

[MADem]

24. They're still showing his ads in NH. He has a new one up that I have never seen before.

It came on about a half hour ago. Pretty good, too.

[Delphinus]

41. Are you in NH?

Can people still vote for them if they've dropped out of the race?

Here in Indiana we are so late in the game that it doesn't matter if we even have a primary so I always vote my conscience. Am curious if the voters of New Hampshire can do the same?

[MADem]

53. I'm in MA, but I get NH tee vee. Also, NH gets regional cable out of Boston.

Why would they want to waste their vote on someone who has dropped out? NH relishes the attention, and the voters like being Kingmakers and Dealbreakers. It empowers them.

You can write in yourself if you'd like. There are always stories of "Mickey Mouse" and "None of the Above" in the counts coming out of the small towns and hamlets...

Of course, the dynamic has changed. It's the SUPER TUESDAY ballots that are going to decide this race now. My state used to be dead late, but we've joined the pack, so we can have a say as well.

[xchrom]

25. well that bums me out. nt

[pokercat999]

26. Biden and Dodd are both good people and might have

made better presidents that any of the others in either party. But that's the system, what can you say?

[indimuse]

27. too bad..

i really like Joe.:eyes:

[jsmooth995]

28. sorry to see him go

too bad, I enjoyed his frank speaking style, though perhaps he was more adept at giving the *appearance* of speaking frankly than at actually providing more substance than the others..

[robcon]

30. Several DU threads over the past weeks that Biden was surging in Iowa.

I never believed it.

[Canuckistanian]

31. Oh, no

Dodd, I can see dropping out. Kucinich has already sgnaled that he doesn't have much confidence in himself.

What does that leave, the 3 front runners, plus Richardson and Gravel?

Jesus, this is just the first result in a long chain. Does it have to be over so soon?

[leftynyc]

32. He was my candidate

This is sad. So much experience. I have to decide by 2/5 who to support.

[pegleg]

43. it shows that we need BIG change. It's now all about money,

And that needs to change to equal things out. We are all losers with the way things are now.

[leftynyc]

44. Full agreement

However, if Clinton, Giuliani and Romney all lose, that would be interesting as they were the biggest money machines.

[pegleg]

45. I personally would like to see a system where all candidates

are allowed to explain their positions to all American voters on a truly equal basis.

[leftynyc]

50. That wont happen.

I can't think of any way money can be taken out of elections. Public financing will only go so far with the internet available. Can you think of a way?

[pegleg]

54. I have no doubt that it could be done, but there are the powerful

interests that would need to be overcome - and that part is unlikely.

[leftynyc]

56. That's part of what I meant

Too many people (interests) are dead set against it. And while the internet levels the field somewhat, let's face it, people watch TV, listen to the radio and so many of them get their news exclusively from that. When I hear the numbers involved in running ($100 million plus), it's so easy to get discouraged thinking what good could be done with that - especially at a local level. How many schools could get the textbooks and other supplies needed, free daycare for kids whose parents have to work - things that lift people up. But the big money people expect payback for all the money they pour into the campaigns and all the other stuff gets left off the table.

[VWolf]

34. Biden for VP

We could use all the foreign relations experience we can get at this point.

I know he said he'd never accept the VP nom, but that was then & this is now.

[Virginia Dare]

36. He'd be a good Sec of State too...n/t

[VWolf]

38. Yeppers

I'd take that too.

[AngryOldDem]

35. Shit.

Just shit.

[Orsino]

46. Now's his chance.

I would hope that he's been listening to his own campaign speeches, and will put the wisdom thereby gained to work in his future votes in the Senate. What say you, Joe? There's a bankruptcy reform act out there for you to repeal, and a war that needs ending. Can we count on you?

[Zhade]

47. I'm disappointed too. I wish Clinton had joined him.

Oh well, can't win 'em all (like she'll learn). At least this pro-PNAC fool is gone.

[bluedog]

49. sorry to hear he dropped out........its too bad

that people in other states Never had the chance to voice their opinion and to have a chance to vote for him......this just sucks.........

[JerseygirlCT]

51. There goes the smartest guy in the race

especially on issues of foreign policy.

This process is screwy.

[KamaAina]

55. He got royally screwed by the Iowa caucus' 15% "viability threshold"

as, to a lesser extent, did Dodd. Biden probably had a LOT more support than the 1% figure being reported. That only represents the few precincts where he did manage to be "viable". But if he had, say, 10% in a precinct, or even 12 or 14%, those votes were thrown out and counted for the caucus-goers' second-choice candidates -- obviously, one of the ECO trio.

What's more, we will never know how close Biden might have been to "viability", because the Iowa Dem caucus does not report vote totals, only "state delegate equivalents". (As far as I can tell, that means a caucus vote in a precinct that usually swings Dem counts for more than one in a Red area.) Oddly enough, the repuke caucus is far more straightforward; you just show up, get your name checked off, and drop a paper ballot in a box. Who'd have thought we'd live to see the day when repukes were ahead of Dems in electoral transparency?!

[Rhiannon12866]

57. Great. Biden and Dodd have dropped out, two experienced and knowledgeable candidates.

But Giuliani and Romney are still hanging in there. Does this makes sense to anybody?:crazy:

I'm disappointed, too, since I think that these are voices that we need to hear during this campaign, as opposed to the Republican, anti-choice, pro-gun, Reagan-invoking, Bible-thumping looneys... *sigh* :-(