CAMBRIDGE, Md. — Vice President Joseph Biden told House Democrats Friday he was confident they’ll win back control of the chamber after the November elections and offered his campaign support for members in several key swing states.
Mr. Biden, speaking at the House Democrats’ annual strategy retreat at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel, said the upcoming elections will offer voters the most “stark contrast” between his party and Republicans since he became involved in politics more than four decades ago.
“Americans are going to get an absolutely clear comparison,” he said. “It’s their vision of America vs. ours. … They are making no bones about it, they’re not trying to pretend.”
“We are strongly supported by private sector, Republicans are supported by the ’privileged sector,’ ” he added.
The vice president said the Democratic Party offers average Americans a helping hand, not a Republican iron first. But he dismissed any notion his party encourages a welfare state.
“The American people are tired of being tired,” he said. “Give them them a glimmer of an opportunity.”
Echoing a central theme of the caucus’ three-day retreat, Mr. Biden urged his fellow Democrats not to shy away from their record and to challenge GOP positions and policies head-on.
“Let’s get tough with these guys. Enough is enough,” he said. “Let’s just lay down our cards and stand pat.”
He contended that the Republican Party’s courting of corporate American has frustrated the public to the point where generic congressional polling in recent months has shown the electorate increasingly supports Democrats.
“These guys are helping us,’” he said. “They’re helping us by saying what they believe.”
The vice president said he will be spending significant time on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida and offered to help House Democrats’ re-election efforts there.
“I’m willing to do whatever you want me to do,” he told the Democratic lawmakers, “because we can’t succeed unless you all come back.”
• Sean Lengell can be reached at slengell@washingtontimes.com.
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