AP Photo-Wilmington, DE

WILMINGTON, DE - Joe Biden’s vote is officially in the books.

Cheers from the crowd outside the polling place announced the Delaware Senator’s arrival just before 9am. BIden walked into this school, just two blocks from his home, with his wife Jill, daughter Ashley, and 91-year old mother Jean Finnegan Biden in tow. The VP nominee flashed his trademark smile, and gave the assembled press a wave.

Emerging from the booth, Biden gave a thumbs up for the cameras before kissing his wife, out first. “Feeling good. Feeling good,” he said — but as per the law, wouldn’t say who got his vote.

“Don’t tell em who you voted for,” Biden told his mother after she cast her ballot. Turning to a polling worker, he said “Mom says this is the most important election of her lifetime, and not because you’re running Joe.”

The family walked out to cheers and applause - and a few jeers from fans of Biden’s Senate opponent, Republican Christine O’Donnell. Biden is still running for his senate seat, in addition to taking a spot on the Democratic presidential ticket - so he was able to vote for himself twice.

The VP is headed to Chicago with 35 family members on board his usually empty press plane — with a short stop in Richmond, VA on the way.

NEWARK, DE — Favorite Son Joe Biden packed the quad at his alma mater on Friday, where the former Blue Hen made sure current students know just how much influence the school has had this election cycle. 

“The University of Delaware didn’t just shape me in this historic presidential campaign, Ladies and gentlemen. This may be the first time in president campaign history that our campaign manager, a Delawarean named David Plouffe, who was in the political science department, a proud Blue Hen, is managing one campaign, and my friend John McCain’s campaign, his chief strategist is a guy named Steve Schmidt who also attended the University of Delaware,” Biden said. 

“Let that be a cautionary tale: Blue Hens can go astray occasionally.”

Why hold a rally in Delaware? The state isn’t remotely in question, expected to fall easily into the Obama camp. But while Biden was forbidden from mentioning it — since the rally was organized and paid for by the Obama campaign — he’s still on the ballot as a senate candidate, and aides say that in addition to talking up other Democrats up for statewide office, the long-time lawmaker wanted to remind voters in the state that he’s still around.

But there’s an Obama/Biden rationale for the rally as well. The Northern Delaware location falls under the nearby Philadelphia media market, where Obama is hoping to offset McCain’s expected strength in Pennsylvania’s more rural areas. Biden aso urged students to volunteer for Obama in the neighboring state. 

While there was a good deal of reminiscing about his time at the school in the early 60’s, Biden didn’t let the crowd go without a few digs at his GOP rivals.  

“I believe that John McCain through the conduct of this campaign unfortunately, continues to think that the way you win is to divide,” he said. “I believe Barack Obama will revitalize the middle class, the backbone of the nation. I believe John McCain is stubbornly clinging to the failed policies of the past because if he acknowledges the failure, what does he talk about?”

“I believe Barack Obama will restore our standing in the world, but I know John McCain continues to be determined to follow the policy of going it alone.”

“Barack Obama will remind us that we are, unlike our opponents continue to divide us, Sarah Palin and others talking about being in the pro American part of the one, of the country, as if all America is not pro America. Ladies and gentlemen, Barack will remind us we are one nation under God.”

Biden heads for an actual swing state next, holding two rallies in Western Ohio to wrap up the day.

DOVER, DE – After a day of bashing McCain that started near Dover, New Hampshire, Senator Joe Biden returned to Dover, Delaware – addressing his state’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner and reminding the assembled Democrats to punch his name twice in 2008.

“Don’t get carried away with this Vice President stuff, I am on the ballot running for my 7^th term,” said the Delaware Senator, who in addition to running for VP is also up for reelection. “So don’t forget. Don’t stop at the top of that ticket, walk your way down. You can vote twice for the first time in your life for the same guy and it be legal.”

Biden, who choked up the first time he addressed Delaware Democrats at the national convention, escaped the night without shedding a tear. But he made it clear how much the people in the state have meant to him.

“We Bidens think of the Delaware Democratic party — it sounds corny — but we think of a lot of you folks who’ve been with me for so long as family,” he said. 

While he may have avoided emotional pitfalls, Biden certainly seemed comfortable in front of the familiar faces — revealing that his instinct was to be more aggressive in the debate with his Republican rival Sarah Palin. “At least I think it was a debate,” he said to laughs. “I saw it on Saturday Night Live.  Damn, I wish I had his hair!”

Biden said Palin turned to him during their debate – “as she was winking at you all” – and said she’d been listening to his speeches in the senate since the second grade. In fact, Palin never used the line that night; she’d said it on the trail and in interviews leading up to the debate.

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LITTLETON, CO — Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden fought to contain his emotions at a breakfast for Delaware’s small convention delegation — thanking the crowd he called his family for supporting him through tough times during his 36 years as the state’s senator.

“This is a great honor being nominated vice president of the United States. And it is an honor. And I’m proud
of it. I don’t mean in any way to diminish it,” Biden said. “But it pales in comparison to the honor that I’ve had representing you.”

The crowd, which included Biden’s wife, children, and sister, applauded as Biden choked up. Wiping his eyes, he recounted a life lived in the public eye — complete with public triumphs and public failures. “I didn’t always comport myself the way, looking back, I want to. When bad things happened to me, when tragedy hit me like it hit many of you,” said Biden.

“I don’t know whether I would have made it through a lot of the tough times in my life without you guys.”

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Over the course of the last two days, a slew of polls were released showing Sen. John McCain nearly tied with or now edging out Rudy Giuliani in Feb 5 primary states the former NYC mayor’s campaign had considered guaranteed winners (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware.)

Additionally, the  McCain campaign has issued the following press releases in the last two days:

01.23.08         Delaware Leaders Join Supporters Of John McCain
01.22.08         John McCain Announces Connecticut Leadership Team
01.22.08         John McCain 2008 Announces New York Leadership Team
01.22.08         John McCain 2008 Announces New Jersey Leadership Team
01.22.08         Connecticut State Senator Anthony Guglielmo Endorses John McCain For President
01.22.08         John McCain 2008 Announces New Jersey Legislative Endorsements
01.22.08         Senator Alfonse D’Amato Endorses John McCain For President

Message to Rudy:  McCain is ready for battle on your home turf on February 5th.