The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

BITING BIDEN br> When it comes to opposition research, the Clintons are known to do a pretty good job. That should have Sen. Joseph Biden a bit nervous. /p>

Now, Democrats, especially in the Senate, love Biden for his pit-bull defense of the party, but they understand that he has his weaknesses: "The guy will debate to the death in defending you, but he can't help touting himself, and his campaigns always seem to have that whiff of scandal, at least with money," says Democratic leadership source.

Both were recently on display. First, the embarrassing New Yorker profile, which last week had Biden on the record claiming he was the key foreign policy adviser to Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, but whining that Kerry never listened to him. Second was news that one of Biden's former fundraisers, Roger Blevins, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for embezzling more than $400,000 in political donations to Biden's leadership political action committee, one that Biden intends to use to initially seed his 2008 presidential run.

Blevins was convicted of stealing the money and spending it on three Florida men he met a gay pornographic Website in 2002 and 2003. Blevins used the money to buy the men lavish dinners, and expensive cars, including a Porsche Boxster and a BMW convertible. With the exception of $10,000, which was returned by a couple who received it from Blevins as a wedding present, none of the money is likely to be recovered.

"Biden's campaigns have had problems in the past with donors and donations," says a DNC fundraiser. "It appears to be a management problem or a judgment problem. Either way, it reflects badly on Biden and that isn't lost on folks who are looking to collect dirt on him."

p>At least two of Biden's prospective Democratic primary opponents have been sifting through the Blevins case, as well as several other incidents, for dirt on Biden. br> /p>

topics:
Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Social Security, Law, NATO