Wed, September 03, 2008
DENVER, the United States, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Delaware Senator Joe Biden was officially nominated as the vice presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday nightin Denver, Colorado.
Born on Nov. 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden was from an Irish Catholic family of four siblings. At age 10, he moved to New Castle, Delaware, with the family where his father worked as a car salesman.
Biden showed strong sense of competition even in his childhood when as his friends said he "just wanted to win too much" in games.
Biden received his highest education at the Syracuse University College of Law, and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1969 after graduation.
He, who registered as a political independent in 1970, was encouraged to run for the Republican-dominant New Castle county council, but as a Democrat. Just two years later, he was successfully elected as a Congress Senator at age 29, making him the youngest senator ever popularly elected and the fourth-youngest U.S. Senator in the country's history.
Currently, Biden is in his sixth term at the Capitol Hill, as the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Delaware history, including many years as the chairman of the Senator Judiciary Committee and Foreign Relations Committee.
Despite his strong influence in the legislature branch, Biden has failed twice his bid for the White House.
His campaign as a Democratic presidential candidate in 1987 had to cease after he was accused of plagiarizing a speech of a British politician. He considered to join the game again four years later, but found it impossible to collect enough campaign fund.
In the 2008 Democratic primary, Biden was one of the earliest dropouts from the campaign when he saw a poor supporting rate in the first caucuses in Iowa early January.
After leaving the primary battleground, Biden's name was mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Barack Obama since his rich experience in foreign and defense affairs can compensate for Obama's weaknesses.
Growing up in a working-class family, Biden is also expected to help Obama win over more blue-collars in November.
In an interview with NBC TV on June 22, 2008, he, for the first time, made clear that he would accept the position if offered.
However, his age and long-term immersion in the Capitol Hill potentially threat Obama's motto to bring changes to Washington.
But what is more troublesome is Biden's initial stance to support the Iraq war, which Obama has denounced from the beginning.
Biden is also known for his compelling personal history. Just one month before he was sworn in Congress, his ex-wife and 13-month-old daughter were killed in a car accident and the other two sons seriously injured.
During the tragic time, he wanted to quit the seat in the Senate to take care of his children but was persuaded to stay.
However, he was sworn in office in his son's hospital room in January, 1973. Five years later, he married the second wife, Jill,and had a daughter. Till now, Biden has been continuing the daily commute from his home in Delaware to Washington D.C.
