Biden: GOP 'strong enough to beat us'
(CNN) – As President Barack Obama prepares to take his re-election campaign into high gear, his running mate is acknowledging the formidable contest ahead.
Speaking at the Atlantic Ideas Forum Thursday in Washington, Vice Pres. Joe Biden said Republicans posed a real threat to Obama's reelection prospects.
When asked about the Republican Party's strength, Biden said, "It's strong enough to beat both of us."
"Look, no matter what the circumstance, at the end of the day, the American people right now are in real trouble," Biden continued. "An even larger percentage have stagnant wages. And a significant majority of the American people believe that the country is not moving in the right direction. That is never a good place to be going into re-election, whether it's your fault or not your fault. It's almost sometimes irrelevant."
Biden's remarks came the day before new jobs data showed the unemployment rate remaining at 9.1%.
Biden said ultimately voters will look to the Obama administration's record on the economy as they cast votes.
"What I'm counting on - I'm counting on what I read out there, the judgment of the American people to decide - they know the hole we're in; they know how far we've come out; they're dissatisfied how fast we're going; and they're going to have to choose whether or not the path we have set the country on is the path that we should continue to go or we should go back to 'liberating' the economy," Biden said.
As Obama and Biden continue to push Congress to vote on the president's American Jobs Act, the vice president said a fractured GOP was leading to legislative gridlock.
"This is just Joe Biden's impression, but I truly believe if just Eric Cantor, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and John Boehner were allowed to settle the deal in the room we would have had a deal," Biden said.
He said if the GOP were able to unify, a deal could get hammered out.
"We need a Republican Party that's united," Biden said. "We need a Republican Party you can sit down with and say, 'OK, this is a deal. Can you deliver? Can you deliver on the deal?'"
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What short memories most of the people making comments here seem to have. Wasn't it the last Republican administration that helped put us in this mess? I'll be the first to admit that Obama has not turned out to be the blockbuster president we all expected him to be, but do you really think going back to the Republicans is the fix – especially given the poor field of candidates who are running!!!
My comment is waiting moderation? not one bad word was said so tell me mr. CNN moderator!! What is YOUR political affiliation and why are you so concerned with FREE SPEECH!!hmmmmm Strange..
Man...The mod er rator at cnn must be out partying tonight!!!
Hello?
Intelligent US citizens realize that Obama's Marxist socialism-communism is ruining America.
I would love to analyze how many corporations are run by republicans or democrats in each state and who is their political affiliation with. If we had this data then we could really get down to understanding the current jobs debate in this country..I guess we will know if Obama is out and all of a sudden the economy starts showing signs of life...
If there is a God, and I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, _bama will be unrmployed at the end of this term. Now he will know how he has made the unemployed American people feel. Good riddance.
Dale...thank you and I sincerely mean it!! I felt like I was reading in a mirror but you wrote it the way I would have loved to have said it... thanks
The majority don't relate to the GOP, their candidates, Wall Street friends, Bank friends, Corporate friends.
What makes them think "99 %" will vote for any of them ?
"We need a Republican Party that's united," Biden said. "We need a Republican Party you can sit down with and say, 'OK, this is a deal. Can you deliver? Can you deliver on the deal?'" THIS shows the problem that is clear as water to those who will be voting. To DEAL members of opposing sides sit down and work on and agree with a little give and take to resolve issues. To think the only deal is to have the members of the other party to approve your ideas as the deal without the give and take shows the arrogance that is destroying this country.
The only reason the GOP would be considered for re-elections is because the Democrats aren't being tough enough letting the country know how bad the GOP has ruined this country. I mean how do you reward a party that was in charge for 14 years got nothing done took America to the brink of collapse and did nothing to stop it? How do you reward a party that took us to war on false pretenses? How do you reward a party that held America and it's people hostage over something as simple as raising the debt limit? Every single republican should be thrown out of office arrested and tried for treason, it's that simple.
dems brought this on themselves by not having a backbone. I do not want to vote for them...BUT I will because the republicans are crazy and will totally destroy this country
Sure the Obama administration had a hand in increasing the federal decifit because of massive spending, but I love how most people (concervatives) have turned a blind eye to the massive spending President Bush's administration and Congress has done during his 8 years in office. Two wars, expensive tax cuts for corporations and the rich, as well as the infamous Troubled Asset Relief Program. Also probably wasn't a good idea to turn the blind eye to banks and major lenders who aggressively lent to those who could not afford the loans. Tea Partiers and conservative Republicans don't just single Obama out for massive federal spending, blame his predecessor as well.
This election is very simple. You choose to vote Republican or you choose to vote them out of the House. I like diversity in government however, there is no compromise in the Republican house. To date, I have always voted the person, not the party and I have to say I have never been so disgusted with the Republicans before in my life. I do not believe in going backwards in life, nor do I believe that is the right path for the US. My vote is Democrat and more importantly, Democratic House is a must.
There is a good chance Obama could lose the election. Granted, nothing seemed to go right for him during his term. Job
losses seem go have really done it. The economy is not good. But, it wasn't good when Bush was still in office. Too much
military spending, etc..Health plan didn't help. But, I read a headline that Florida doesn't have the GOP vote. Seniors are up in arms because the GOP want to attack Medicare and Social Security. The Congressmen and Senators are all millionaires. They want to take away from the seniors,not other millionaires. They are ignoring Obamas JOBS bill like it was never presented. These are two groups, seniors and unemployed, and they are very large. They are also voting blocks that must be considered. The closer the election it may be discovered that they could sway the election.I'm a senior and I read all that I can, listen to the news, etc. It could effect how I would vote.
I want to vote Obama out and a real president into office but so far the GOP candidates Perry, Romney and Cain just do not meet the standards for a real President. One thing about Cain is his 999 slogan, without complete details I would not vote for it, what I want to hear is what spending will be cut and when. How soon will the Obama Health Care bill be repealed and completely withdrawn from our laws and budget. When will individuals like Holder be indicted and put on trial ?
Ummm...OK...now I'm confused. Wasn't most of the *last* century an "American century"? He makes it sound like we've never had one....
Since when has Joe Biden been right about anything. Draft Hillary Clinton for Vice President and dump Joe Biden. This will set up Clinton for her eight years as president in 2016. Obama/Clinton in 2012...
It isn't so much the Republicans being a threat; it's the Democrat's own abysmal performance that has put their reelection in jeopardy. As the majority party, the election is theirs to lose. And they seem intent on doing just that.
Obama: "Note to self...get new running mate for 2012 elections...maybe an 8-year-old with more sense than Joe...."
Obama is a banker blowing, lying piece of filth...and still better than any republican.
T. What I see around me is the Rich getting richer and the middle class at best breaking even. Why was this system the Utopia. When the buble burst the middle and poor felt the brunt of the system breaking. It was the GOP with some consevative democrats that put this system in. History shows us it has been the government that gets us out of the hole and then Coorperate America takes over. The hole was very deep something we have not experienced in over 60 years. Our desire in instant results is understandable but unrealistic. We should not return to the past mistake we must move forward
Good, I hope he realizes that, so he can prepare himself for the big fall.
This is a classic set-up. Feel sorry for the President, and give him another chance.
100% agree. The TP is destroying the GOP and the country.