joe biden was trusted. he's the guy who always took the train from washington back up to wilmington. >> because? >> because that's where he lived. >> and because his two kids were orphaned. >> his kids were orphaned. his first wife died in a tragic accident. he's the kind of guy who liked to ride the train, who liked to talk to people on the train. his dad was a car dealer. he's an average guy. he went to state schools. he knows how to speak the real language. the onion newspaper, the humor newspaper, they've got a guy they call onion joe biden, and he's a guy with tattoos and a muscle tee who's always polishing his pontiac. that's an exaggeration, but on the other hand, that's who joe biden is. and the other thing about joe biden -- and i think the senator will agree with me -- he was one of the best informed, most detail focused guys. he was chairman of the foreign relations committee, chairman of the judiciary committee. this is not just a show horse by any means. >> it helps if you're 29 years old when

that is something i don't see joe biden doing as well and we of course have the paul ryan/joe biden debate coming up which will be a huge proving ground. james, i wonder in terms of bill clinton, how does the administration best use him apart from dispatching him out to florida and so forth? are there marching orders they should give him in terms of things to focus on? >> how to use him best. four words. as much as possible. the guy is a political person and you're right, i agree with you absolutely. he possesses the numbers, he possesses -- it's underneath his skin, waiting to bubble out, and people like him. they like him because they know he means it. politicians, a lot of terrible people can mean it. hitler meant it. stalin meant it. on the other hand, franklin d. roosevelt and john f. kennedy meant it. just meaning it isn't enough. but there is a kind of ardor, a kind of passion that emerges from deep inside. we teach students to find themselves inside, to access themselves and then at the proper moment onstage, to let it emerge and it emerges genuinely. that's when we believe them. t

thank you, joe, for being tough but fair. >>> coming up, there was one word joe biden literally loved saying last night. what was it? literally it was the word. he loves saying the word literally. this is "hardball," the place for politics. >>> bill clinton threw out more specific numbers in one speech last night than the republicans did in the entire week in tampa. >> a reasonable plan of $4 trillion of debt reduction in a decade. for every $2.5 trillion of cuts. >> not that the republicans did not have a plan to solve the nation's economic problems. >> we are going to solve this nation's economic problems. we need to stop spending money we don't have. we will not duck the tough issues, we will lead. >> and as a last resort, we will use magic. >> back to "hardball." speaks of clinton's speech, you may have caught this snapshot of hillary clinton making her diplomatic address. she was in southeast asia. before watching, the secretary of state had this to say about the remarks. quote, i received the as-prepared version which i am anxious when i can to compare with the as-delivered vers

you often hear the story from joe biden. just a kid from scranton, p.a., trying to make it in the tough, tough world. that's the message he'll resonate on the president's policies toward the folks not born with a silver spoon in their mouth. it will be interesting to see how he does that tonight, how fiery the rhetoric can be. it has been fiery in the past. most interestingly enough, with joe biden, the most important thing he can do for president obama is not have a gap tonight and also reiterate the message he's fighting for those who are not of means, who are not of extreme wealth. that's what his position here is for, president obama. it's something he's quite good at and enjoys to do. >> steve, you had some thoughts on joe biden. what have you got there? >> i think there's a fascinating subtext to his speech tonight because there's sort of a tradition, a more moderate tradition with re-election conventions. part of it is their vice president gets a chance to make the point, hey, i'm in line for the next election. there'

they came in with joe biden who was classic joe biden. n. barack obama, talking in a really tough terms. the democrats suddenly all national security? what happened to american policy as we know it? >> one of the interesting things about this night is it gives democrats a chance to look strong on some of their biggest issues traditionally. both defense and national security. how many times did we hear the name bin laden tonight? one of his favorite lines, osama bin laden is dead and general motors is a life. >> all three of them were killed mitt romney and paul ryan. it was relentless. >> the president wrote it in. -- rubbed it in. and bill clinton had the best speech. what surprised me about this is it seemed aimed more at democrats. this gives you a sense of what's this will be going forward. we can see them try to do that with democrats. he had them chanting, "four more years" constantly. >> i thought going in that -- because bill clinton did so well that barack obama of a competitor would want to outshine him and it would lead him to do

thank you, joe, for being tough but fair. >>> coming up, there was one word joe biden literally loved saying last night. what was it? literally it was the word. he loves saying the word literally. this is "hardball," the place for politics. [ male announcer ] wouldn't it be cool if we took the nissan altima gave it greater horsepower and best in class 38 mpg highway... ...advanced headlights... ...and zero gravity seats? yeah, that would be cool. ♪ introducing the completely reimagined nissan altima. it's our most innovative altima ever. nissan. innovation that excites. ♪ throughout our entire lives. ♪ one a day men's 50+ is a complete multi-vitamin designed for men's health concerns as we age. ♪ it has more of seven antioxidants to support cell health. that's one a day men's 50+ healthy advantage. [ male announcer ] finally, mom's oven-baked tastes straight from the microwave. like oven-roasted chicken in a creamy alfredo sauce. marie callender's new comfort bakes. it's time to savor. marie callender's new comfort bakes. you misare you sure?et toss. eeeee! yeah. i get all my

biden. >> well, look, i respect joe biden. but those of us who were in congress knew joe biden. we knew joe biden as a person who is a very nice guy, by the way. he is very likeable. but tends to be wrong on the major policy issues. he was wrong frankly on just about every major policy issue. he is even wrong when he disagrees with president obama. so, you know, those of us that knew him were always kind of shocked as to how he is portrayed as this great expert on foreign policy. don't get me wrong. he was the chairman of the committee, but he was always wrong on the policy. that does not take away, however, from the fact that joe biden is a very good debater and a very likeable individual. he is a wonderful guy. the kind of guy that you want to go and have a cup of coffee with. but not the kind of person you want dictating the policies of the united states. >> at least that's what republicans would say. we have to be fair here. i was just wondering something about mitt romney. he is not out campaigning. he's been holed up in

they're working it hard and on larry's point about joe biden, that was as good as he can speak. he was direct. sober. he resisted the tendency he has to shout. he didn't do that so much. took directly on the bain argument, accused mitt romney of not understanding what the auto industry meant to america. said he thought about it the the bain way, which was balanced sheets. you mentioned the point about osama bin laden. the emotional moment about the troop was meant to contrast on the republican ticket. >> yeah, we did hear earlier this week that corporations were not people and yet, we also heard gm essentially referenced as a person. gm is alive. >> exactly right. look, both sides are a little silly with that argument. corporation, mitt romney is right. corporations are composed of human beings who organize themselves to make profits and pay themselves and pay their shareholders and all that. that's kind of a partisan tool. quote from mitt romney, but that was joe biden at his best tonight and i think in the same way that the republican ticket was very happy with the spectacular

is the white house not using joe biden to best effect? are they afraid to have joe biden go out and do interviews? >> i don't think so at all. i think joe biden is out there at campaign stops all over the country. he draws big crowds and everybody is very enthusiastic to have him. joe biden is a great leader in our country. he's authentic. he says it the way he sees it. >> if the president is re-elected, if he is or if he isn't, is joe biden a likely contender in 2016 if he wants to, or would you expect that hillary clinton or some of the younger faces we've seen, corey booker going to the iowa delegation breakfast the other day or today, rather, is a key indicator? >> we have many good choices in the democratic party but let's get through this election first and elect this extraordinary president who in no ordinary time was able to pull us from the brink of depression, job creator from day one, more jobs in the private sector in one year than in the eight years of the bush administration. one election at a time. >> democratic leader nanc

what about joe biden in 2016? >> joe biden november 6th. my mom, my entire family, making sure we re-elect the president. look, we have a team we're running against. mitt romney, he said his foreign policy expense -- give me a break. you've been following international relations for a long time. you have mitt romney who in 24 hours visiting our closest ally offends not only the prime minister but all brits. so, i mean, we have important issues about foreign policy, both domestically to discuss in 60 days. you're going to see the vice president and president do that. >> beau biden, good luck to your dad today. >> thank, andrea. >>> women are center stage as republicans attack abortion and reproductive rights especially pl funding for planned parenthood. >> this past year women learned when we're not at the table we're on the menu. so why are we having to fight in 2012 against politicians who want to end access to birth control? it's like we woke up on a bad episode of "mad men." >> your new president could be a man who stands by when a publi

at times as somber as joe biden gets, as modulated as joe biden gets and as fiery as he gets all in the same speech. he tried to use his voice and his volume as an effective tool. you see there the embrace from his wife, dr. jill biden. and again, his role tonight drumming up excitement for the main event, the address by the president here in a few minutes. we're going to have one interim speaker, dick durbin, from illinois. and as we shift our focus ahead to the president claiming nomination for a second time, we want to bring in white house correspondent kristen welker who is mercifully in from the road as long as the president is in from the road. no rest for the weary. she's out first thing in the morning. kristen, column in "the new york times" this morning and i read this back to the first lady during our interview today described the president as proud yet humble, confident yet scarred, a dreamer, mugged by reality. and if all of that is true and if the democrats have done their best possible job laying out the predicate to go forward, starting with your road trip tomorrow, what

at times as somber as joe biden gets, as modulated as joe biden gets and as fiery as he gets all in the same speech. he tried to use his voice and his volume as an effective tool. you see there the embrace from his wife, dr. jill biden. and again, his role tonight drumming up excitement for the main event, the address by the president here in a few minutes. we're going to have one interim speaker, dick durbin, from illinois. and as we shift our focus ahead to the president claiming nomination for a second time, we want to bring in white house correspondent kristen welker who is mercifully in from the road as long as the president is in from the road. no rest for the weary. she's out first thing in the morning. kristen, column in "the new york times" this morning and i read this back to the first lady during our interview today described the president as proud yet humble, confident yet scarred, a dreamer, mugged by reality. and if all of thats true and if the democrats have done their best possible job laying out the predicate to go forward, starting with your road trip tomorrow, what ca

thank you, joe, for being tough but fair. >>> coming up, there was one word joe biden literally loved saying last night. what was it? literally it was the word. he loves saying the word literally. this is "hardball," the place for politics. [ male announcer ] wouldn't it be cool if we took the nissan altima and reimagined nearly everything in it? gave it greater horsepower and best in class 38 mpg highway... ...advanced headlights... ...and zero gravity seats? yeah, that would be cool. ♪ introducing the completely reimagined nissan altima. it's our most innovative altima ever. nissan. innovation that excites. ♪ throughout our entire lives. ♪ one a day men's 50+ is a complete multi-vitamin designed for men's health concerns as we age. ♪ it has more of seven antioxidants to support cell health. that's one a day men's 50+ healthy advantage. [ male announcer ] finally, mom's oven-baked tastes straight from the microwave. like oven-roasted chicken in a creamy alfredo sauce. marie callender's new comfort bakes. it's time to savor. marie callender's new comfort bakes. you misare you

about joe biden, richly reported, well-written. we saw him out hammering this theme, osama bin laden is dead, general motors is alive. tell me about joe biden and the difference he makes compared to most vice presidents. >> he's the number one surrogate for this campaign and this candidate. in some ways he embodies the spirit in good and bad ways of 2012 more than mitt romney or barack obama. neither one of them are dirt fighters. they don't get down in the mud with gusto. joe biden is a guy who is like the id. he's, he has the much, from the gut. he can throw a punch in the gut and still smile at you after he hits you there, that's kind of an incredible skill in politics, he's a guy with longstanding real appeal to white working-class voters. where the obama's campaign greatest weakness is with that class of voters and older white voters, those are the primary targets for the romney/ryan campaign. and biden speaks to that group in a lot of ways more comfortably, more persuasively than president obama does himself. so he'll in a lo

and then, karl, vice president joe biden. >> absolutely. >> bill: we know sometimes joe biden goes off the reservation. he's for real. my home state of delaware, we love him because joe is very authentic. >> he's literally the most authentic vice president we've literally ever had. >> bill: last night his job was to tell, i think the world who barack obama really is from somebody who has been up close and worked with him and been there with him when he made all of the tough decisions. here karl is joe biden talking about barack obama's backbone. >> time and time again i witnessed him summon it. this man has courage in his soul compassion in his heart and a spine of steel! >> it was a really good speech. you know, what was interesting if you compare that to the republican convention, the republican convention, the spin was they're trying to personalize the candidates because people don't like them, right? the big mistake that they made in doing only that was that people -- they're not just looking to like mitt romney. in order to cast their ballot for him. they want to know the directio

vice president joe biden nominated and accepting. here are the highlights of night three. >> the current right wing tea party dominated republican not only has hasn't learned from mistakes of the past they're determined to repeat them. we will not let that happen. >> one side of the campaign we have a president who has made america lead like america again. and what is there on the other side? an extreme candidate lacking the judgment and vision so vital to the oval office. the most inexperienced foreign policy to run for president and vice president in decades. >> and barack obama is the kind of leader my he father brought wrote bchl he does what is hard. he does what is right. >> congressman ryan says he wants medicare to be around for his grandkids. well... if that is the case, he had better vote for barack obama. >> this man has courage in his soul, compassion in his heart and a spine of steel. and, because of all of the actions he took, because of the polls he made and determination of american workers and unparallelled bravery o

joe biden knows that story. he's lived it. our vice president joe biden. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the vice president of the united states, joe biden. [ cheers and applause ] >> hello, my fellow democrats! and my favorite democrat. jilly, i want you to know that beau and hunt and ashley and i, we're so incredibly proud of you. you know, we admire the way -- with every single solitary young person -- and they're not all young, walk into your classroom, you not only teach them, you give them confidence. you give me confidence. and the passion. the passion she brings to try to ease the burden on the families of our warriors. jilly, they know you understand them. and that makes a gigantic difference. and, folks, i tell you what, it was worth the trip. to hear my wife say what i've never heard her say before. she's always loved me. if that's the case, why in the heck did it take five times of asking you? and that's true. five times. i don't know what i would have done, kiddo, had you on that fifth time said no. i love

is studied joe biden's tapes and record and joe biden's, john style and said, as you know, one of the best litigators in america and is good at adapting to that. chris: have you got lines already prepared, attack lines. >> i'm not a "line" guy, i'm more of a gut guy. i'm more of a -- you know me well, i don't try to be anybody other than who i am. i believe in what i believe. i do what i do, and i really believe in the policies we're providing, we are pursuing. and, at the end of the day, i am just going to go in there and be me. >> chris: are you hoping joe biden makes one of his -- >> i don't think he will. he doesn't do that in debates, the gaffes, he's legendary for this, that is not in these kinds of situations, he's a very disciplined person when he speaks in these kind of situations and doesn't produce gaffes in these moments, those are when he's off the cuff, on the stump, out giving speeches. >> chris: you are not counting on one. >> no. >> chris: thank you so much for talking with us. >> thanks, chris, appreciate it. >> chris: with that interview we have now talked with both

if joe biden-- >>> -- [overlapping dialogue] >> if joe biden had said-- >>> with a slight -- >> if joe biden had said what you are praising clint east woord for saying to that chair, you would be all over him. >> sean: can you imagine if any republican said as joe biden dhere, have you an african-american -- first time an african-american, he's articulate, he's clean... well spoken. >> he would be drummed out of public life. some of those words are actually code words, for african-american. but joe biden can say it. i know have you always wanted to interview the president. you should do the empty chair interview. a full hour of you and the empty chair. >> sean: my interview with reverend jeremiah wright. i did the one interview in the last election psyche welreverend jeremiah wright, the last interview he did. march of 2007. >> you are saying-- >>> you didn't even i. i have to go back -- >> you don't have it in the archives? >> sean: i look a little younger, but it was me. let's talk about, you know, i see marco rubio and -- a cast of rising mia love, who we just had on -- rising stars

if joe biden-- >>> -- [overlapping dialogue] >> if joe biden had said-- >>> with a slight -- >> if joe biden had said what you are praising clint east woord for saying to that chair, you would be all over him. >> sean: can you imagine if any republican said as joe biden dhere, have you an african-american -- first time an african-american, he's articulate, he's clean... well spoken. >> he would be drummed out of public life. some of those words are actually code words, for african-american. but joe biden can say it. i know have you always wanted to interview the president. you should do the empty chair interview. a full hour of you and the empty chair. >> sean: my interview with reverend jeremiah wright. i did the one interview in the last election psyche welreverend jeremiah wright, the last interview he did. march of 2007. >> you are saying-- >>> you didn't even i. i have to go back -- >> you don't have it in the archives? >> sean: i look a little younger, but it was me. let's talk about, you know, i see marco rubio and -- a cast of rising mia love, who we just had on -- rising stars

[applause] joe biden did a great job with those. [applause] president obama appointed several members of his cabinet, even though they supported hillary in the primaries. he even appointed hillary. [applause] wait a minute -- i am very proud of her. i am proud of the job she and the national security team have done for america. [applause] i am grateful they have worked together to make us safer and stronger, to build a world with more partners and fewer enemies. i am grateful for the relationship of respect and partnership she and the president have enjoyed and the signal that stands to the rest of the world of democracy does not have to be of blood sport. it can be an honorable enterprise that advances the public interest. [applause] besides the national security team, i am very grateful to the men and women who served our country in uniform through these perilous times, and i am especially grateful to michelle obama and joe biden for supporting those military families while their loved ones were overseas and for supporting our vet

here's joe biden. here's joe biden. he's taken ryan to task over a number of facts and discrepancies in the speech last week. here was the vice president speaking at an rally in new york. >> much of what they told you at your convention simply what they say in my old nabld neighborhood, not on the level. you heard congressman ryan on wednesday blame the plant closing in janesville in his hometown on president obama. let's take a look at the facts. what he didn't tell you was the plant in janesville actually closed on president bush's watch. while he was president. before the sacrifices you made, uaw members made, before those sacrifices and the courage of the president, but for that, all the gm plants would have been closed. >> so how do you think this debate is going to be coming up next month, a debate between that guy and ryan the guy he's taking shots at? >> you know, i have a cover story in the "new york" magazine about biden. i spent a lot of time with him in the last month. he is fired up and re

here's joe biden. here's joe biden. he's taken ryan to task over a number of facts and discrepancies in the speech last week. here was the vice president speaking at an rally in new york. >> much of what they told you at your convention simply what they say in my old nabld neighborhood, not on the level. you heard congressman ryan on wednesday blame the plant closing in janesville in his hometown on president obama. let's take a look at the facts. what he didn't tell you was the plant in janesville actually closed on president bush's watch. while he was president. before the sacrifices you made, uaw members made, before those sacrifices and the courage of the president, but for that, all the gm plants would have been closed. >> so how do you think this bate is going to be coming up next month, a debate between that guy and ryan the guy he's taking shots at? >> you know, i have a cover story in the "new york" magazine about biden. i spent a lot of time with him in the last month. he is fired up and read

joe biden knows that story. he's lived it. our vice-president, joe biden. [cheering] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the vice-president of the united states... joe biden! [cheering] [cheering] >> legalo, my fellow democrats! [cheering] and my favorite democrat... i want you to know that beau and hun and ashley and i are so proud of you, kate. you know... we admire the way with every single solitary young person -- and they are not all young, walk into your classroom, you not only teach them, you give them confidence. you give me confidence. and the passion, the passion she brings to trying to ease the burden on the families of our warriors, they know you understand them. and that makes a gigantic difference. [cheers and applause] >> and folks... i tell you what, it was worth the trip. to hear my wife say what i have never heard her say before. she's always loved me... [laughter] if that's the case, why in the heck did it take five times of asking you -- and that's true! five times. i don't know what i would have done, kiddo, huon that fifth time sai

loves joe biden. he is prone to go over times. he delivers the terms -- in term s of hit a lot of points that fire of people in this hall and presumably across the country. >> he did mention repeatedly the fact that the republican presidential nominee did not discuss the troops overseas, dii that has been a talking point for the democrats since the -pconvention began. >> that is correct. you heard him reference barack obama as the commander in chief. he talked as a person who was in the oval office with president obama when tough decisions came what do we do about getting osama bin laden? there are risks involved with that mission. he talked about the automotive industry, which was crumbling before our eyes. president obama had to make a decision about how to handle it. he gave a personal testimonials about the guy in the room with the president of the united statee and his decisive leadership when tested by huge events that were taking place before our eyes. >> the vice president has been known as un

biden, and joe biden, you could say it was long or over the top, but he really made the point about the middle class and about that choice election. one other speaker whom you know very well is john kerry. i have been hearing certainly from the diplomatic community their take-away from john kerry's speech last night and some of his recent behind the scenes behavior is that he is really moving up at least at this point and it's never over til it's over, in the sweepstakes if there is a second obama administration, who would be secretary of state. he's played a behind the scenes role as an envoy to some of the most troubled parts of the world without any publicity, he is trusted as a very confidential envoy and there's a lot of competition. susan rice, other players. but john kerry has a lot of supporters now. what is your take-away? >> i think he would be a great choice. i think he would have been a great president, by the way. >> i should say you worked in that campaign. >> yes. right. 60,000 votes in ohio, we would be finishing the second kerry term. i talked to him. he's not focus

and joe biden. he was fantastic. >> president bush was not present at the convention and was barely mentioned by anyone except briefly by his brother, who said it's time to cut him a break. >> and my brother, well, i love my brother. he is a man of integrity, courage and honor. and during incredibly challenging times, he kept us safe. so mr. president, mr. president, it is time to stop blaming your predecessor for your failed economic policies. >> well, i always like to remind people he didn't keep us safe september 11th, 2001. it was always after that. if a democrat had been president on 9/11, the republican party would have participated such villainizing of the democrats, it would never have ended. let's move on to the broader question here of how they treated the most recent chief executive. not much action there for w. pure love for bill. >> well, chris, i think they decided down down in tampa that for every minute george bush was mentioned, they were going to drop that percentage in the polls.

thank [ cheering and applause ]♪ [ music ] ♪joe biden, his wife jill biden joining him and exiting stage left as the signs in the crowd read fired up and ready for joe. it was quite a last 45 minutes, joe biden going across the political spectrum and reminding people this is a man he knows, president obama, a man he's confident can lead this nation if given four more years to complete the task. joe biden, one known to go off script and sometimes a little bit long, tonight they are only slightly over. for those of you just tuning in and in a matter of minutes we'll have a video presentation which will introduce the president. it will last about seven minute. there may be a little surprise we're led to believe by the democratic national committee in there and we'll not spoil that to you and then the president of the united states to make his case to why he deserves four more years in office and to do what they've been saying in north carolina complete the task and right the ship, a lot of work ahead, a man who knows vice president biden pretty well, our congressional correspondent mike ema

let's talk a little about joe biden. candy crowley is here. it's interesting, jessica yellin, our chief white house correspondent is hearing he's going to talk a little bit about some of the experience he's had with the president, what he's learned about the president over these past four years, he'll share some anecdotes and focus a little bit on the big decisions that the president's made. he's trying to tee-off, the president, obviously in a very strong way. this is an important speech for joe biden personally as well. >> it is. it sounds a little bit like michelle obama's speech when she tried to link policy and the person. so this is also a guy joe biden, the vice president who's beenn on some of these decisions, he had a famous phrase which i guess we can't repeat on television to describe when health care passed. what's interesting about this through the prism of joe biden is this is a man who has not ruled out a 2016 run. so a lot will be looked at in this speech. this has been a man who's been quite loyal to president obama, done him

we knew it when he chose joe biden as his running mate. [applause] joe was the perfect choice, because like the president, he had lived the american dream, going from humble middle-class roots, to the united states senate, to the vice presidency of the united states. [applause] and we all know from his incredible speech last night that he has been side by side with the president's, fighting to make sure that we open the doors of opportunity for all americans, working to create good jobs and to invest in education, to make health care and retirement and schools affordable for everyone. it is what he has fought for his entire career. [applause] and we know joe biden is also a very smart guy. we know this because we have met the woman that he married. jill biden, isn't she great? [applause] when she and michelle got together to support military families, they made this country so proud, and they have made such a great difference for military families across this country. [applause] now, i do have to tell you that i do have one problem with ba

let's talk a little about joe biden. candy crowley is here. it's interesting, jessica yellin, our chief white house correspondent is hearing he's going to talk a little bit about some of the experience he's had with the president, what he's learned about the president over these past four years, he'll share some anecdotes and focus a little bit on the big decisions that the president's made. he's trying to tee-off, the president, obviously in a very strong way. this is an important speech for joe biden personally as well. >> it is. it sounds a little bit like michelle obama's speech when she tried to link policy and the person. so this is also a guy joe biden, the vice president who's been in on some of these decisions, he had a famous phrase which i guess we can't repeat on television to describe when health care passed. what's interesting about this through the prism of joe biden is this is a man who has not ruled out a 2016 run. so a lot will be looked at in this speech. this has been a man who's been quite loyal to president obama, done hi