WILMINGTON, Del. - With a sick relative and a son headed off to war, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden has grounded his campaign for a few days.
Biden canceled a visit to Washington, D.C., on Saturday night and a trip to Virginia on Sunday because of what a spokesman called “a serious illness” in the family of his wife, Jill.
”Hospice has advised the Bidens to remain close by, and we appreciate everyone’s respect for the family’s privacy,” the spokesman, David Wade, said in a statement.
Biden didn’t campaign on Friday, either.
Instead, he spent the day after his big debate with Republican rival Sarah Palin in his home state of Delaware.
His only public appearance was at a departure ceremony in Dover for 112 members of the Army Delaware National Guard, including his son, Beau, who is being deployed to Iraq for about a year.
In brief remarks, Biden bid the soldiers a safe farewell. He made no mention of his campaign. Aides said he spoke as a father and senator, not as a vice presidential nominee.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria (Biden hugs wife Jilll at the end of his debate with Palin)
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AS you may know by now, Joe Biden’s mother-in-law just passed away. That hardly means he’s “quitting the campaign” or lying. He was very close to his mother-in-law, apparently, and of course to his wife it is a terrible loss. My condolences to the Biden family.
- Posted by DottieI respect Senator Biden and wish he and his wife well during a diffult period. I am not voting for McCain and I am not voting for Obama. The McCain/Palin ticket is the worst choice the Republicans could give America at this particular time. I am too unsure of Obama to give my vote to that ticket either. I am tired of the Israeli firster’s…and neither Joe or Sarah gave me any comfort in that regard. Sarah wants to put our Embassey in Jerusalem…oh there ya go Sarah, stirring up trouble over there before you even have power. Everyone knows that is a huge gaffe to do that. Just think of what Sarah could do for the economy! Dig everything up and hope we strike oil just like our neighbor, Afghanistan.
- Posted by FrancesTo all of the Republican vultures out there… Sen. Biden’s mother-in-law passed away over the weekend. Some faked illness.
- Posted by MA G.It is difficult to believe the amount of bilious vitriol that I have read in this blog. It must be all of that “compassionate conservatism” evinced by the conservative faithful who have written here.
My condolances to Senator Biden and his family, and best wishes for a speedy recovery to his sick family member.
- Posted by John HIt is disturbing to me that Beau Biden and Track Palin will be stationed in Iraq where their presence will draw danger to other members of their unit and the possibility of their capture potentially threatens the American vice president’s freedom of action.
See NYT Op-Ed piece, Presidential Children Don’t Belong in Battle By JOHN S. D. EISENHOWER
- Posted by Bob WaltonPublished: September 27, 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/opinio n/28eisenhower.html?scp=1&sq=John%20eise nhower&st=cse
I just want to say it will by OK, Joe. Don’t let it SHOCK you.
Thomas Eagleton
- Posted by Thomas EagletonYou have to explain very slowly to the peope that the $5000 tax credit by McCain comes off taxable gross income and not a credit towards taxes due.
- Posted by WayneLove to see the Repubics get in another four years. That should wipe out the repubics completely and leave two. Demos and Independents who are for the people!
- Posted by WayneDean - agree w/change just not to Socialism like Obama is talking about, and besides he isn’t walking the walk when he brings to the ticket a guy who has been in politics longer then I have been alive and is in deep w/slum lord Rezco and don’t even get me started w/Wright.
- Posted by SteveWhat happened to the party of Kenndy “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” now everybody is just looking for handouts.
[...] National Guard, including his son, Beau, who is being deployed to Iraq for about a year. Tales from the Trail Blog Archive Biden cancels campaign events, illness in family | Blogs | Reuters… Eeerily similar to a thread Don posted some weeks ago about an illness taking Biden out of the [...]
- Posted by Biden cancels campaign events, illness in family - ThePhins.com(un)Informed: You are representing the epitome of cynicism, seeing as you are willing to believe that all of the evidence coming from multiple sources is contrived and not representative of a real trend. Best of luck in that approach with all that you do…I’m sure it will lead you to many great successes…at least in that make believe world in which you reside.
- Posted by DonGood grief ,informed he’s only canceling for a few days. He’s not dropping out completly. Get a grip people.
- Posted by sweet georgia brown