Vice President Joseph R. Biden was captured on video in an awkward exchange with the young daughter of U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, after he went in for a whisper and then a kiss — and the obviously uncomfortable girl pulled away.
The moment took place at the swearing-in ceremony of new senators.
Mr. Biden was welcoming Mr. Coons, from his home state of Delaware, to a second term when he bent and whispered something in the ear of the senator’s young daughter, who was standing before her mother. The C-SPAN video then shows Mr. Biden — who was also grasping the girl’s arm — leaning in close to the side of her face for a kiss.
The girl, noticeably uncomfortable, pulls away and Mr. Biden’s try at a smooch fails and his lips seem to land on open air.
New York Magazine tweeted of the exchange: “Full Biden mode on display at the Senate swearing-in ceremony” and posted the video clip, Mediaite reported.
The video shows that after the near-kiss, Mr. Biden chuckled and the girl muttered, “Thank you.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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