Biden's 10-year-old granddaughter meets the press
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/04/art.biden.ap.jpg caption="Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden votes with his wife, Jill, and mother Jean, in Wilmington, Delaware."]
From CNN Producer Alexander Marquardt
CHICAGO (CNN) - Reporters traveling with Joe Biden Tuesday finally came face to face with the girl they had been hearing about in every single one of her grandfather's campaign speeches in the past two months: Finnegan Biden, the Delaware Senator's 10-year-old granddaughter who wants to be president and urged him to agree to be Barack Obama's running mate.
"I subscribe to anything Finnegan says, I have absolute confidence in my granddaughter," said Biden, who joined her in the press section of his campaign plane shortly after Finnegan wandered back and started answering reporters' questions.
"She's the one who pushed the hardest for me to be vice president, didn't you," Biden asked the blond-haired girl standing in the aisle of "Pop's" plane, surprised at all the attention being paid to her.
Why did she want her grandfather to get the nod?
"Well, first, it'd be really cool. And, he and Barack Obama will make a difference," she said.
That and the fact that the vice president's mansion in Washington is "a mile and five-tenths" from her house and has a pool.
The focus quickly turned to the vice presidential nominee who says that even if his ticket wins Tuesday night, his family life won't change much.
"If we were to win I don't know that it would change a lot. In the sense that, just being different locus I guess." The family - 36 members of which are with Biden today - is mostly split between Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington. Biden says those in Wilmington would simply have to make the short trip to DC.
When asked if his 91-year-old mother, who lives with him now, would make the move, Biden told CNN that she might. But he quickly reminded the press that he's superstitious and doesn't want to get ahead of himself.
"I really am superstitious. And we really have not talked about it. I mean everybody's thinking about it, but no one's, no one's talking about it," said Biden, adding that it's presumptuous to assume one knows what voters will do.
"I know it sounds silly but I really mean it," he continued. "If you notice, all the speeches you've heard me say you've never heard me say 'I believe the American people think.' Never presumed to think for the voters or the American people."
After voting in Wilmington Tuesday morning, Biden made a final campaign stop in Richmond, Virginia, where he greeted voters at a polling station. He then flew to Chicago where he will watch the returns come in with his large family at their hotel before joining Obama at their rally in Grant Park.
Notably absent is Beau Biden, Biden's eldest son who is about to be deployed to Iraq as a captain in Delaware's National Guard. He was told he could leave his training base in Texas to join his family, but turned it down to stay with his fellow soldiers.
"This kid is a different brand of kid," said Biden.
With all the questions about the future if he becomes Vice President, Biden says one thing is certain.
"Jill said, 'I'll make you a deal,'" said Biden of his wife. "'If you get the vice presidency and get elected, you can get a dog.'"
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If anyone has exploited any kid at all, it is Palin who has exploited her children. Don't they go to school, or is that not as important as mommy becoming V.P.?
Sadly both of those comments so far have spelling errors. I think it's great to get kids involved, seeing someone they can identify with, such as Biden's granddaughter in their age group, will help them want to participate in politics in the future.
I think Joe Biden is being a grandfather. He is proud of his grandaughter. Give me a break he is not being inappropriate in an way.
yeah i agree with bob, legalize it!
Biden is the most humble of all the candidates and the Senator never made his kids or grandkids an issue. To say he's exploiting his grandkid is just rubbish.
Sarah Palin on the other hand is another story.
But enough about exploiting his grandkid. The campaign is over.
Obama/Biden will be the next President and Vice President. GET OVER IT! LIVE WITH IT!
Thank God Almighty!
Biden wants to get a dog? I knew there was something I liked about that man. Hope he adopts a shelter pet.
We all love to talk about our families. It's a human thing. Joe Biden is no different, that's why I think he will be a great VP, he's one of us.
Mike,
Exploiting kids? Palin is pretending to be the mom of her daughters autistic kid, and uses that kid CONSTANTLY in her speeches. And Biden is exploiting his grand-daughter?
Republicans have no foot to stand on. Issues will not win them elections so they use scare tactics and flat out lies to decieve the american people. Mike, you must be a republican if you think Biden was exploiting his grand-daughter. What a joke.
I find this article to be a cute show of Biden. He isn't exploiting his granddaughter, she really seemed to be enjoying the attention; and besides, it shows that Biden really does care about his family! Unfortunately, simply_kris, how many American people would actually let their parents live with them, whether being elected or not? Several hundreds wouldn't, so sit back and keep quiet about the fact that they "should be kicked out of their houses or jobs" or that they are "racist", when did caring about ones family become wrong!
I was closed out to make my comment about the lie sent out to the Obama's supporters to wait until Nov.5th to vote Where are these people getting these dirty tricks from? out of the Palin/McCain/Rove playbook.Right down to the last minutes the republican supporters have subjected themselves to low life standards .There are alot of good republican supporters out there but it is ones like this make alot of democrats upset with all republicans but I for one don't feel that way because there really are alot of decent americans that are republicans and don't agree with the republicans that are full of hate and lies as well as it is with some democrats that subject themselves to the same standards as the low life republicans
Biden listens to his granddaughter for advice. Sounds like another four year policitian from 1976.
What an awesome family. Funny how you didn't hear much about them until today. There's a huge difference between introducing your family and schlepping them around all over while campaigning and showing them off like expensive luggage.
Finnegan in '44!
Biden also used his son going to Iraq, he gave a public speech at their farewell ceremony in Delaware.
I like Jill Biden's idea, if you become the vice president , you can get a dog! I will have to tell that to my husband who wants to keep a dog and i keep saying no. Now my hisband knows what he needs to do if he wants a dog 😉
joe is the coolest
I totally agree. The republicans are a bunch of whiney losers. They think they are the only ones in this country that are patriotic, but instead they are pathetic. I was a career Marine and live in a very republican state where I meet a lot of republicans that did not even have the courage to join our nation’s military. Republicans are divisive, self centered, and out of touch with the rest of the nation. I am looking forward to change and a new direction for this great nation of ours.
THIS IS WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT, FAMILIES, NOT HATE, AND SLANDER AND LIES . I HAVE THREE GRANDCHILDREN, AND I HANG ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS. VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN
Don't see any race related comments on this board that sparked your rant simply_kris, but I'm used to it now. Unsupported race accusations have been spewed non-stop for several months now and hopefully it will get very old over the next year after Obama wins.
Joe Biden is great . He is very qualify to be a better VP than Alaskan Governor. Nothing wrong to mention about Grand daughter who loves to see her grand father became vice president. My prayer go for Joe Biden.
GOBAMA/BIDEN I see victory and hope at last! All you repubs should be thankful as you will get the benefits as well. Not like we got the fallout of the Bush years. We endured, just barely, but you will get to enjoy.