Biden's Closing Argument Converts Eleventh-Hour Caucusgoers

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Thu Jan-03-08 09:19 AM
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Biden's Closing Argument Converts Eleventh-Hour Caucusgoers

Joe Biden may be polling single digits nationally, but somebody forgot to tell him this, not to mention to the 300 people who greeted him at a campaign stop in Coralville on the eve of the caucuses. Joined by his family members and wife Jill at his side, the Delaware Senator was quick to remind the audience that his campaign was alive and picking up momentum across Iowa.
"I want to tell the press here that reports of our death are premature," Biden said. "I promise you that if you stand up for Joe Biden tomorrow night, there are going to be scores of people standing up with you."

Biden was introduced by Atul Nakhasi, a 20-year-old UI junior, president of the University of Iowa Democrats and the recipient of the Press-Citizen's person-of-the-year award. "Over the last year, I've had the great honor of introducing Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and Senator Edwards," Nakhaski said. "And now I am here to do one more introduction at one last event, saving the best for last. Senator Biden and his campaign may not have the most money and celebrities, but he doesn't need it. Our votes cannot be bought by money or celebrity; that's not how Iowa works."

Biden was also quick to remind caucusgoers that the election is not just about experience. "If that was the case, then I win. It's over," Biden asserted. "And it's not really about change, it's about action." Biden discussed some of his accomplishments as a senator including the recent passing of his Iran exit strategy and the Violence Against Women Act that he authored and fought for until it passed after an eight-year battle.
But it was Biden's closing argument as to why voters should caucus for him on Thursday that sealed the deal for a number of caucusgoers in the room, prompting some of them to switch their allegiance to Biden at the eleventh hour. Iowa City resident Tim Taffe was one such convert. He had been going back and fourth between Edwards and Obama for awhile, but now plans on caucusing for Biden and Edwards will be his second choice if he's not viable. "It was Biden's closing argument that sold me," Taffe said. "I mean, who else that is running right now could we entrust to take over tomorrow?"

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"I was leaning towards Dodd and possibly Edwards before tonight, but I hadn't heard Joe Biden speak yet," Angerer said. "He definitely sold me, namely because of all the damage that's been done internationally over the past seven years. It needs to be mended immediately, and I think Joe Biden is the candidate that can do that starting tomorrow."

Then there is Shawn Noble, who told the Iowa Independent at an Obama event in Coralville earlier in the day that he was planning on caucusing for Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and would go to Obama if he wasn't viable. Noble changed his mind after hearing Biden speak. "He was very impressive. I think I'm going to caucus for Biden now instead of Kucinich," Noble said. "But I'm still sticking to Obama as my back-up plan."

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1783