The senator, who has announced his intention to pursue the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, has previously called for Rumsfeld's resignation. He's also stated he will support a forthcoming "no confidence" resolution against the defense secretary proposed by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
"I think the key question is not, 'Are we at war? but, 'Are we winning that war?' " he said. "Are we safer than we were five years ago?"
Biden looked toward the 2006 midterm elections, having made over a dozen trips to the critical caucus state of Iowa.
"[Voters] all wanted to talk about national security, they all wanted to talk about our place in the world," he said. "They're looking for answers. They're not looking for invective."
Biden remained confident.
"I think the American people are way ahead of both political parties on this one," he said.
Despite an aggressive push by the administration, he said, "all the rhetoric, all the attacks are going to be no avail."
George Stephanopoulos' entire interview with Biden can be viewed at "This Week's" Web page at www.abcnews.com.
