Vice President Joe Biden

Former Democratic Party Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. has taken over for the late Edward M. Kennedy in the Senate. Vice President Joe Biden swore Kirk in hours after a Massachusetts judge rejected a Republican request for a delay. The GOP had argued that Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick exceeded his constitutional authority by appointing Kirk before a traditional 90-day legislative waiting period had expired. State lawmakers passed a bill this week giving Patrick the power to choose an interim senator.

Vice President Joe Biden toured a low-income housing project Friday in South Los Angeles and announced that the federal government will offer nearly $100 million in stimulus funds to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint and other health hazards from low-income homes. "This is a particular plague that adversely hurts children under 6," Biden told a crowd of residents and community leaders gathered in the courtyard of the Esperanza Community Housing Corp. He was joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles)

Vice President Joe Biden promised that Washington would help Balkan nations join the European Union, and he urged Bosnian lawmakers to set aside their differences and work together across party and ethnic lines. "The door is open for the countries of this region for the first time in history to be an integral part of a free Europe," Biden said in Bosnia's parliament. "The U.S. will help you walk through that door." Biden was in Sarajevo on the first stop in a three-day tour of the Balkans meant to demonstrate renewed interest in the region.

Re "The GOP's fantasy lineup," Opinion, April 7 It is hard to understand why political pundits talk about the demise of the Republican Party when it has such a strong group of future young leaders, as mentioned in Doyle McManus' column. To wit: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker. To that list, I'd add Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez. While the Republicans have their issues, it is the Democrats with a real leadership problem.

WASHINGTON -- President Obama said Vice President Joe Biden got "a little over his skis” on Sunday when he said he supported same-sex marriage on a morning TV talk show. But Biden did it out of a "generosity of spirit," Obama said in the full interview with ABC's Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," broadcast today. Obama said he had already made a decision that he would affirm the right of gays and lesbians to marry and was planning to do it in advance of the election.

WASHINGTON -- Hillary Clinton would be the runaway favorite among Democrats for the party's 2016 presidential nomination, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows, but activists at EMILY's List, who have launched a campaign to elect the first female president, aren't satisfied -- Clinton was the only female choice offered. “It is a very nice list of Democratic male candidates,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of the group, which supports Democratic female candidates. “I'd like to today challenge any national polling organization to start testing some of these other great women, whether they are secretaries or they are senators.

Vice President Joe Biden marked the Fourth of July with his son and other American troops in Iraq, a day after warning Iraqi leaders that U.S. assistance will be jeopardized if the country reverts to ethnic and sectarian violence. Biden began Independence Day by greeting more than 200 U.S. soldiers from 59 countries who were becoming American citizens at a naturalization ceremony in a marble domed hall at one of Saddam Hussein's palaces at Camp Victory, the U.S. military headquarters on the outskirts of Baghdad.

Vice President Joe Biden stumped for the administration's jobs bills Wednesday on Capitol Hill as the White House tries to rally support in advance of congressional votes. The Senate could vote at the end of the week on the first provision -- $35 billion to keep public school teachers and first responders on the job. “Real people - real people - will get real relief right now,” Biden told a friendly crowd of public sector union workers at a stately meeting room in a Senate office building.

Re "And the veep choice is…," Opinion, April 26 Among the criteria Doyle McManus lists for potential vice president picks is that the ideal candidate needs to avoid gaffes. His example is Sarah Palin, the 2008 nominee, but when mentioning Vice President Joe Biden all McManus refers to is Biden's securing the Pennsylvania vote. Biden is to gaffes as Thomas Edison was to electricity. The frequency and outrageousness of Biden's gaffes would make professional comedy writers insecure.