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Democrats Could Lose Senate, Biden Warns Party

1 year ago
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Democrats are only four seats away from losing control of the Senate to Republicans in 2012, Vice President Biden warned supporters in a online appeal for donations Tuesday.

"I am writing to you today because at a moment when the stakes are highest, Democrats in the Senate face the toughest electoral climate we've seen in a long time," he said in his e-mail from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Politico reported.

"Democrats are defending 23 seats in 2012, five of which are open. Republicans only need to pick up four to take control of the Senate," Biden wrote.

In late January, RealClearPolitics' Sean Trende identified 2012's most vulnerable Democrats as Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Jon Tester of Montana, Missouri's Claire McCaskill, Florida's Bill Nelson, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Virgina's James Webb (who has since announced he will not seek re-election). In North Dakota, Republicans have their sights on the seat now held by Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad, who after 24 years will not seek re-election.

Here's Biden's e-mail, posted at Politico:

I am writing to you today because at a moment when the stakes are highest, Democrats in the Senate face the toughest electoral climate we've seen in a long time.

Democrats are defending 23 seats in 2012, five of which are open. Republicans only need to pick up four to take control of the Senate.

President Obama and I believe that government has a responsibility to invest, to give people the tools to make the most of their own lives. But many of today's Republicans have a different vision.

That's why I'm writing to you today. The end of the month's FEC deadline is a crucial test of our strength. By giving to the DSCC, you have the power to prove to the pundits and our opponents that grassroots Democrats are standing together to defend our firewall.

Click here to give $5 or more to the DSCC. The DSCC must raise $233,533 by March 31 to build campaign infrastructure. Not meeting this deadline will mean not having the resources to win.

While Republicans in Congress are trying to drag us back to the past, President Obama and I are working to win the future.

We're working not only to create jobs in the short-term, but to make sure our nation can out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the competition in the long-term. To succeed, we need a Senate that's working with us.

Your gift to the DSCC is the best way to ensure just that. More than 90% of donations come from grassroots supporters who are standing with President Obama and me as we work toward an America that works for all Americans.

Click here to give $5 or more to the DSCC. The DSCC has an important FEC deadline on March 31, and it must raise $233,533 to recruit top candidates, build winning campaigns and keep the Senate blue.

Please stand with President Obama and me by standing with the DSCC. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Biden

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60 Comments

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subtrek1

Hey Joe:

Take some of those cost oveerun MILLIONS on YOUR train station and put them in, In otheer words BIDEN BITE ME!

March 23 2011 at 3:40 PM Report abuse +301 rate up rate down Reply
dbunkingdbunk

You would have to be mentally challenged, sadistic, or massochistic to vote for Republicans. The question is, how many qualify as one of those three?

March 23 2011 at 2:48 PM Report abuse -451 rate up rate down Reply
FGFM

I don't find this fund-raising letter particularly newsworthy. No one is going to donate money if they get a letter that says that everything is fine. I routinely ignore the letters I get from the ACLU, NRA, SPLC warning me of the pending apocalypse.

March 23 2011 at 2:44 PM Report abuse +180 rate up rate down Reply
FGFM

"See..the biggest entitlement states, California, New York and Massachusetts all kept their Senators for fear of losing their freebees"

Actually, those states only get back around 80% of what they pay in federal taxes.

March 23 2011 at 2:41 PM Report abuse +170 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to FGFM's comment
reddwarf57

The cost of the BIG DIG shows that the statement above is a lie.

March 23 2011 at 4:16 PM Report abuse +55 rate up rate down Reply
Mike

Win the future. That's right. Don't focus on the present or learn from the mistakes you made in the past. They can't even find a way to prevent the irradiation of American citizens from nuclear plants. Article yesterday pointed out we have 71 THOUSAND TONS of nuclear waste that we don't know what to do with. Meanwhile, Brazil, without having to rely on nuclear energy, started an ethanol program 30+ years ago and doesn't rely on foreign oil. But, the US? Oh no, let's go from one disaster (long dependence on foreign oil) to another (nuclear energy). Neither Party gets my vote for being smart.

March 23 2011 at 2:34 PM Report abuse +45 rate up rate down Reply
Mike

That's all this has become. Each Party wants to stay at the top of the mountain to push their own agenda. I'm telling you. We should amend the Constitution to top out Senators at two terms (or 12 years) and Representatives at 6 terms (or 12 years). You can serve in either house, but 12 years is the limit. Time to turn 'em over. We should also be cutting benefits for both just like we're trying to do with public employee unions (which is the right thing to do).

March 23 2011 at 2:31 PM Report abuse +248 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mike's comment
reddwarf57

Why any benefits? They tell us what an honor it is to be elected. They make good for the actual time they work. Why further reward them?

March 23 2011 at 4:18 PM Report abuse +175 rate up rate down Reply
smitty

Why would anyone vote republican when after they voted a republican house in that promised jobs and have done nothing, but go after midle class programs to pay for their tax cuts, would they want more nothing from a republican senate.

March 23 2011 at 2:29 PM Report abuse -316 rate up rate down Reply
ktcrsn

Biden is so passionate about those "republicans" and how they are destroying this country,,? He is reaching out for chump change to save his "Ol Boys Network" called the Senilers, oops the Senate and possibly losing 4seats. All he wants from the chumps in the party is a paltry 1/4 million to fight those nasty conservatives. Hey Joe, you and your party sit on two endless gold mines...Marxist Geo Soros and the Obama Benevolent Unions Bank. So, use them, dont try and pretend you require help from your lemmings. Thats only "Real Chump Change" for those two. Or, you could have Hollywood hold a bash (thats if the errant president is not vacationing, golfing or dribbling on some court) at the WHITE HOUSE, where its a continual holiday hall, all business aside.

March 23 2011 at 2:07 PM Report abuse +233 rate up rate down Reply
GARY

BIDEN, A JOKE!!!

March 23 2011 at 1:59 PM Report abuse +265 rate up rate down Reply
canoeal

Oh and I own a small Business...

March 23 2011 at 1:32 PM Report abuse -39 rate up rate down Reply

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