While Delaware Celebrates Joe Biden as Obama’s #2, Some Think the Senator is Running 1 Race 2 Many

On August 23, Senator Joe Biden won the coveted role as Barack Obama’s vice presidential nominee…and Delawareans lost their minds. It was the first time in history a major political party had nominated a Delawarean for a vice presidential campaign – and Delaware was more than abuzz about Biden.

“People in Delaware and at U of D are much more interested in the election now, because [Biden’s] nomination hits so close to home.” Erica Auguilar, a 19-year-old University of Delaware student of the Class of ‘11, claims the kids can’t stop talking about an illustrious UD alumnus who graduated nearly half a century ago – Joe Biden of the Class of ’65. Although Joe has long since left the halls of U of D, his name still echoes in its classes. “The topic of Joe Biden comes up often in class – whether it’s political science or communications. I think we’ll only hear more as the semester goes on.”

As any Delaware native will tell you, we’ve heard a lot from old “Loquacious Joe” over his 36-year career in the US Senate – but never has the state been more excited about its longest serving senator. The News Journal – Delaware’s leading daily newspaper – has launched a new feature section called “Biden Watch,” a daily chronicle of Sen. Biden’s campaign for the vice presidency. “Way to Go Joe!” congratulatory signs pepper the windows of small businesses and residences alike, as Delawareans show support for their homegrown candidate. The once small-town Senator has gained notoriety on the national stage, prompting some admiring locals to take a page from his book – or just buy the whole thing.

“We can’t keep it on the shelves. We’ve been ordering it a lot, but people keep buying it. Some people come in and buy multiple copies,” said Samantha Heath, an 18-year-old employee of Books and Beyond, a privately-owned bookstore in Hockessin, Delaware. Samantha claims sales of Joe Biden’s book, Promises to Keep, have skyrocketed since Biden was named Obama’s running mate. “It’s probably been our best seller the past couple of weeks.”

Ashley Butkowski, an 18-year-old sophomore at the University of Delaware, and employee of the University bookstore, claims Promises is a popular seller among the younger set as well. “I’ve seen more students around the political section, and heard more students saying that they want to read not only Biden’s book , but also Obama’s books as well…Obama picked Biden because he’s older and more experienced, but he must be really talented to be chosen from such a small state. People are proud to have a vice presidential candidate from the First State.”

State pride for Sen. Biden is so strong, that viewing parties held for Biden’s Democratic National Convention acceptance speech eclipsed even those held the following night for Barack Obama. At the Delaware Young Democrats’ viewing party at Kildare’s Irish Pub – a typically collegiate bar in the main fray of the University of Delaware campus – party goers cheered for the 65-year-old Joe like the man was doing a keg stand on the DNC stage.

“I think most Americans know Joe Biden as a fighter. They know he’s this scrappy kid from Scranton who’s going to say what’s on his mind and say what he feels,” said John Collins of Newark, Delaware, one of those energized by Biden’s speech at Kildare’s. “Joe laid out exactly what the middle class is lacking right now – that people are being left behind. I think Joe Biden understands that better than anyone. He was raised in a middle class family, he’s experienced loss, and he came up from Scranton and Wilmington and has risen through the ranks.  I don’t think John McCain or Cindy McCain can understand that….lots of Americans don’t know this story as well as Delawareans know it, because Delaware is a family.”

Indeed, many Delawareans reacted to Sen. Biden’s nomination as if one of their own families were running to be the next Vice President of the United States – with pride and emotion. “I’m going to have to go home and watch [Biden’s acceptance speech] again. I got so taken aback by the fact that he’s from Delaware and he’s going to be our next vice president, that there were parts of his speech that I knew I missed because I was tearing up. It absolutely touched me deep down.” Cat Coudle, President of the Delaware Young Democrats, wasn’t just proud of Joe Biden for his achievements, but also proud of Sen. Obama for selecting a running mate from a small state – despite the lack of an electoral incentive. “Obama didn’t make his choice based on the number of electoral votes that his vice presidential candidate could deliver. He wanted issues to be at the forefront.”

“Most VPs are picked for political reasons; they don’t have a real role in the White House. But Joe Biden will be somebody who can deal with the enormous challenges that the U.S. and world face right now.” Omar Masood, the Treasurer of Delaware Young Democrats, appreciates that Obama didn’t simply pick a “placeholder” from a larger state – and is helping Delaware broaden its horizons as well. “Tonight was a big night – not only for Delaware Democrats, but for Delawareans in general. To have one of our own rise to the level of national office – is just incredible.”

It remains unclear whether either major presidential candidate will indeed reach across party lines and unite the country as they claim – but it seems Delaware at least has found some common ground. “The fact that Biden is from Delaware and went to UD makes me respect him.” Katie Speace, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Delaware, thinks the state could be unified under a Democratic ticket featuring one of Delaware’s own. “I’m a registered Republican, but I was already planning on voting for Obama. The addition of Joe Biden to the ticket just reinforces my vote.”

Dr. Joseph Pika, a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware, claims many students like Katie had caught Obamania long before Biden secured the nomination – although the added dose of one of UD’s own alums certainly won’t hurt. “Many students had already been excited by Obama before the VP nomination was decided, so I don't really think it's likely that this selection had much impact.  The level of excitement is far greater than I've ever seen before on this campus.  Having a Delaware angle to the campaign may be exciting some additional interest, but I think it's mostly Obama.”

Although many Delaware Democrats and Republicans alike are pleased to have their state represented in the presidential election – don’t expect everyone to be Pro-Joe right away. With his highly publicized bid for the vice presidency, it’s easy to forget that Joe Biden is also running for re-election to the US Senate this fall – and some Delawareans think Joe has forgotten as well.

Grant Russell, a native Delawarean and Junior at Washington and Lee University, is pleased that Sen. Biden’s nomination has brought Delaware greater recognition – even in remote Cape Town, South Africa, where he is studying for the semester. “I'm excited to see a Delawarean in the national spotlight.  To be in Africa and hear a passerby on the street mention someone from Delaware's name really amazes me.”  Although he’s glad to see a Delawarean run for the vice presidency, Grant thinks Biden should stick to this national campaign – and stop running all over the place. Grant created the Facebook group, “Joe Biden should suspend his 2008 Senate reelection campaign,” in an effort to discourage Sen. Biden from conducting two national campaigns at once. “My biggest problem with Biden's VP nomination is that he will run consecutively for a 7th term in the Senate.  I know what he is doing violates no law, but as a voter, I recognize that his Senate race is merely a back-up for his larger opportunity.”

Grant and others feel that Sen. Biden cannot possibly conduct a fully engaged senatorial campaign while also pursuing the vice presidency – if Delaware voters’ concerns are to be properly addressed. Sen. Biden’s opponent is Republican Christine O’Donnell, a political commentator with no prior public service experience – which suggests that the 6 term incumbent Senator will likely defeat her with little to no campaigning effort in Delaware. However, perhaps the greatest concern is that a double-sided Biden victory will mean a vacancy in one of Delaware’s US Senate seats. Under Delaware law, in the case of a Senator’s resignation, the Governor will appoint a new senator among the “qualified electors of the State.”

Joe Finney, a 22-year-old Senior at the University of Delaware and Resident Advisor in Kent dorm, has voted for Sen. Biden before, and plans to support the Obama-Biden ticket this fall. However, Joe believes Sen. Biden’s senatorial campaign could disenfranchise Delaware voters – and that Biden can’t have it both ways. “From an unbiased perspective, it seems a bit unfair to pursue a US Senate seat and the vice presidency at the same time. It doesn’t give the other candidate in the race a fair shot, and prevents other people from running who may be able to run a more engaged campaign. Yes, if he withdraws from his Senate reelection and loses the presidential election, he’ll be out of a job – but that’s a chance you have to take. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

Although Professor Pika of the University of Delaware concedes that Biden’s Republican opponent has a right to raise this issue for the public debate, he maintains that the more “democratic” way to resolve the issue is to allow Sen. Biden to pursue both offices – and let the votes fall where they may. “In my memory, this is the third instance where a candidate pursued two offices simultaneously:  Lyndon Johnson in 1960, Joe Lieberman in 2000 and Biden.   There may have been others because Senators have often been asked to be VP candidates.  I wouldn't describe it as ‘undemocratic.’  Democracy hinges on the ability of the people to select whom they want to represent them within broad guidelines.  So, the undemocratic position, in my opinion, would be if voters were prevented from choosing Biden – after all, there is no guarantee that he will win the VP position.”

As November draws nearer and the presidential race heats up, Delawareans will be seeing more of Hometown Joe on television – and likely less of the Senator in his own state. Which begs the question: is it democratically responsible for Sen. Biden to remain on the ballot for two separate national elections while trying to be Obama’s Number Two? Although his nomination is “icing on the cake” for many Delaware students already excited about the Democratic ticket – can he run for two public offices and “have his cake and eat it too?” One thing is certain, if Biden does suspend his bid for US Senate and Barack Obama loses the presidential election, Joe won’t be eating cake – but humble pie.

-          Stephanie Woods