Biden: "I want to see Nevada blue"

Joe Biden started his three day campaign swing through Northern Nevada last night at a fundraiser for the Washoe County Democratic Party in Reno.

He made his case to the audience why they should for him in the Nevada Caucus next January and hit it off quite well:

"The president has criticized those of us who have led the effort against his escalation as saying we're emboldening the enemy," said Biden, 64 and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Well, let me tell you something, Mr. President, it is not the American people and Joe Biden and the United State Senate that are emboldening the enemy. It's your failed policies that are emboldening the enemy.

"It's the only mission this president has accomplished in Iraq -- to embolden the enemy."

Biden also reiterated why Nevada is important for the upcoming presidential election:

Biden said Nevada is going to be vital in determining the Democratic nominee for president.

"It's going to determine in large part who the nominee is going to be," he said. "You're one of four contests right up front, and I think the combination of those contests is going to determine the nominee.

"Secondly, Nevada is a winnable state (for Democrats), so you're going to see a lot of us."

Nevada went to Bush by narrow margins in 2000 and 2004.

"I want to see Nevada blue," he said to cheers from the crowd, referring to the Democratic color designation for states.

There was also a blogger among the audience. Chip at Nevada Dem writes:

At the end of the evening, I could imagine Joe Biden as President, a good President at that given the huge challenge the next President will have cleaning up the diplomatic mess left by our current President. But the more overwhelming sense was that Senator Biden will be perhaps the most helpful voice on foreign relations advising the next Democratic President. He already occupies the position from which he can best serve America.

Today, Joe Biden will be in Carson City and Reno:

Tuesday February 20th, 2007

9:45 AM

Sen. Biden will speak to the Carson City Democratic Party
Comma Coffee
312 South Carson Street
Carson City, NV

7:00 PM

Sen. Biden will speak to the Nevada Committee on Foreign Relations
Topic: Iraq’s Future and America’s Interest
Jot Travis Student Union Pine Lounge
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV