Vice President Biden Hits Campaign Trail to Protect Obama Agenda
Biden focuses fundraising efforts on vulnerable Democratic House members.
Oct. 7, 2009— -- Last month Vice President Joe Biden presented a dire scenario if vulnerable House Democrats were to lose their bids for re-election next November.
Biden said in stark terms that if Democrats were to lose 35 House seats they currently hold in traditionally Republican districts, it would mean doomsday for President Obama's agenda.
"If they take them back, this the end of the road for what Barack and I are trying to do," the vice president said at a fundraiser for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in Greenville, Del.
The vice president said Republicans are pinning their political strategy on flipping these seats.
Republicans need to pick up 40 seats next November to take back control of the House. There are 49 seats currently held by Democrats in districts that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., won in last year's presidential election.
To prevent that doomsday scenario, Biden has hit the campaign trail, raising money for freshman Democratic members who party officials deem the most vulnerable, the "frontline" members.
"For a lot of freshmen and other members in competitive districts, there is obviously a value to having the vice president come and do an event," said Biden spokesman Jay Carney. "Given how full his schedule is with policy issues and foreign travel, there is only so much he can do. But he is eager to help where he can."
That value has translated into cash for Democrats. Biden has held events for 20 members of Congress and brought in over $1 million this year.
Party officials say that Biden's outreach to these vulnerable members gives boosts their campaign war chest and gives them more media exposure.
"Anytime you have the president or the vice president at an event, it's something that more people will be interested in," said one Democratic official.
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