Biden Delivers First Speech of the Campaign

Text of the Introduction of Joseph Biden as the Democratic Presidential Nominee's Pick for Vice-President. Location: Democratic Rally in Springfield, Illinois

Obama: "Americans want meaningful change. They need hope. I know that hope is audacious. And you know that I know that hope is audacious. So, audaciously, I have selected a man who meaningfully wants to audaciously hope that we can change. Ladies and Gentlemen, the next Vice-President of the United States, Senator Joseph Biden!!!

[applause]

Biden: "Thank you! Thank you! . . .

[applause]

Biden: "Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you, Barack Obama. . . .

[applause]

Biden: "Thank you for that warm welcome. I am the man who accompanied Barack Obama to Springfield, Illinois.

[laughter. applause]

Biden: "Four score and seven years ago, I had a dream . . .

[smattering of applause]

Biden: ". . . that we could all just get along. And I asked not what my country could do for me, but what I could do for my country. And I realized that I had nothing to fear, but fear itself.

[nervous laughter]
[smattering of applause]

Biden: "There you go again. Mr. Barack Obama, tear down this Republican dominance of the White House, because I say to you the times they are a-changin' and there must be some kinda way out of here. Barrack Obama can find us that way. The time for racial discrimination is over. We need to take back Washington, D.C. for the little guy, for the average American. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

[stunned silence]

Biden: "We need not just a new generation of leadership, but a new gender of leadership. And that is why I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. And that's an inconvenient truth. Facts are stubborn things, and George Bush doesn't realize that the purpose of politics is to give people the tools to make the most of their lives.

[crickets chirping]

Biden: So, while Senator Obama and I keep our eyes on the prize, don't taze me, Bro! Because, the Vice President is not the decider. He doesn't have a magic wand that he can wave and poof!! Low gas prices. Because, one thing to remember about history is the true history. I tell you today that the future will be better tomorrow. The Middle East is hopeful. There is hope there. So, in closing . . .

[deer in headlights]

Biden:" . . . I cannot tell a lie. I am not a crook, but I do regret that I have but one life to give for. . . "

Obama: "Okay, that's enough. Joe Biden, ladies and gentlemen!

[applause]