Why in the world does Sheldon Whitehouse need VP Joe Biden?
After a routine series of legislative fundraisers in recent weeks, the political juice will get cranked up considerably when Vice President Joe Biden headlines a time this Thursday (5 pm, the Biltmore) for US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
Whitehouse has a staggering financial advantage over his Republican opponent, Barry Hinckley, so why’s the VP helping the freshman Democrat raise campaign cash?
Brown University political science professor Wendy Schiller puts the answer in the context of predictions that Republicans will take a narrow lead in the Senate:
“I think it shows the White House’s concern for maintaining a Democratic-controlled Senate,” Schiller told me earlier today. “And even though it appears that Senator Whitehouse has a significant financial advantage and lead in the polls, they are not taking anything for granted, and they want to make sure they hold every ‘safe seat’ that they can.”
On Politics has moved!
“so why’s the VP helping the freshman Democrat raise campaign cash?”
Because any politician can always use more cash in a campaign…duh…
Sure, the GOP has a pretty good chance of taking back the U.S. Senate later this year (not that that has anything to do with RI), but this fundraiser is just basic Politics 101.