Biden's Bedbug Problem

Des Moines -- "So what do bedbug bites look like?" OffTheBus asked Joe Biden's Iowa political director, Danny O'Brien.

"They're really big and round and itch like crazy," said O'Brien, as we polished off a glass of red wine in downtown Des Moines late last night.

O'Brien and two other campaign staffers were stricken with bedbug bites while taking up residence in a cheap hotel outside Des Moines, in the northwestern suburb of Urbandale, during the final days before the Iowa caucuses.

"Actually, it's more of a weekly or monthly sort of place rather than a real hotel," explained O'Brien.

O'Brien and the other two other staffers, both women, bought some medication and are more comfortable. They also purchased their own sheets, pillows, and blankets.

Another Biden staffer I met on Friday night told me that his toilet had overflowed while he was in Cedar Rapids training caucus volunteers.

When he arrived back in Des Moines after the nearly three-hour drive - exhausted and with fewer bucks in his pocket because he had to pay for the beer and pizza for his volunteers and staff (the Biden campaign doesn't have the money for such luxuries) - he was forced to move his luggage from one room to another. But then the key broke on his new room and he wasn't sure how he was going to get in his room after dinner.

These are just a few of the hurdles and hardships the Biden staff wrestle with as they work day and night for their cash-strapped candidate, who has found a loyal group of Hawkeye supporters hell-bent on getting their candidate a top ticket out of the Iowa caucuses, only three days away.

O'Brien is Biden's former chief-of-staff in Washington, D.C., and architect of the ground game for his boss in Iowa. Their $8-million campaign is straining under the demands of building a solid organization to support Biden's recent surge in the polls.

Although Biden has proven experience as a foreign policy expert and consistently gained traction since the fall, his campaign continues to be hamstrung by a lack of money, paid professional staff, and organizing muscle to make him a real contender.

Bedbug bites, overflowing toilets, relying too heavily on volunteers, and worrying about every dollar could all add up to a promising candidate getting culled from the field on caucus night because he didn't start raising money early enough in this highly competitive race.

Still, the scrappy Delaware Senator and his cadre of Iowa supporters could play a big role in the final outcome of the caucuses.

Biden supporters, along with the other second-tier candidates, may well determine who moves onto the New Hampshire primary with a big bounce or a big mountain to climb after Iowans cast the first presidential preference vote in the country.

Comments

[caywen]

Screw the polls and screw the money. Caucus for Biden.

[US55588144]

Why don't the Lower Tier Democrats, as the media has anointed them, get together and win the Democratic nomination. Here is the deal. Biden gets the Presidency because of Seniority. Richardson gets the Secretary of State position. Dodd replaces Harry Reid, a real dud as Senate Majority Leader. Kucinich Gets the Secretary of Labor job. Mike Gravel is named Secretary of the Interior with explicit instructions to save the Polar Bears.

[vaporgenie]

I wont support Biden. Biden is a certifiably wacko drug warrior. He is the originator of the RAVE acts of several years ago. Basically, the RAVE act enables the Feds to prosecute a music promoter or host for drug crimes if drugs are found at their event-even if they have no connection to it, and no knowledge of it! This legislation is an outrageous power grab for the police state. It effectively allows the Feds to prosecute any music promoter they dont like. From drugpolicy.org:

Senator Joe Biden pushed the controversial legislation commonly known as the "RAVE" Act through both houses of Congress as an attachment to an unrelated child abduction bill.

The "RAVE" Act makes it easier for the federal government to prosecute innocent business owners for the drug offenses of their customers - even if they take steps to stop such activity. This is a threat to free speech and musical expression while placing at risk any hotel/motel owner, concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner or arena/stadium owner for the drug violations of third parties - real or alleged - regardless of whether or not the promoter and/or property owner made a good-faith effort to keep their event drug-free. It applies not only to electronic music parties, but any type of public gathering: theatrical productions, rock concerts, DJ nights at your local club or tavern, and political rallies. Moreover, it gives heightened powers and discretion to prosecutors who may use it to target events they personally don"t like, such as Hip-Hop events and gay and lesbian fundraisers.

[suntzu]

Bedbugs are not respecters of luxury in hotel accommodations, and they can be found in the best of hotels. They are not associated with filth. They just like beds and people...even beds with silk sheets slept on by the rich social elite.

[Lynne222]

Well, I disagree with the writer. This has nothing to do with WHEN he started getting donations, but more to the point, WHERE the donations are coming from. He's not taking money from BIG BUSINESS, and THAT'S the kind of president I want!! Not some candidate all jacked up on favors to those who helped them get 80/90 MILLION dollars. Biden's supporters are the ONLY ones supporting him, and if I had to get a case of the bed bugs to get him elected, I'd do it!!!!!

GO JOE!!

[Desiderata]

Standing on a corner
Trying to get warm,
Along came an Iowinian
Who took me by the arm.

He led me to a wood-framed house
Then rang the rusty bell
Soon I was tucked into a soft warm bed
Clean as far as I could tell.

That night when I was sleeping,
I felt some things crawl.
Some well-fed mites and bedbugs
Were camping on my balls.

I think they were sing "Kumbaya"
While gazing at my other head.
The one there bit down so fierce
I was howling out of bed.

In Three more days and three more night
I'll be out of this state.
In three more days and three more nights
To another Primary date.

[truth101]

You would think that there would be a hotel proprietor
in Des Moines with vacant rooms who would let the
US Senators and his aides
have the key. Vacant rooms
which become occupied have
almost no additional cost
save a fresh sheet and 30
second vacuum. Wake up IOWA!

[YankeeCanuck]

It's a sad commentary when the most qualified candidate gets mention only because his staff get bitten by bedbugs.Nice shot of the candidate most likely to bite.

Here's the deal on press coverage of Biden--
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brent-budowsky/media-insiders-shaft-bide_b_78823.html

Here's what David Brooks, Mark Shields, and Judy Woodruff have to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRJ2us-0ZaU&feature=user

[FrankenPC]

I put my money where my mouth is. I donated to Senator Biden's campaign. I don't care if he has no chance in hell of winning, I will vote for him.

I can no longer take the populist route for the sake of electing a particular party. I'm voting my conscience this year. I'm an American and I'm going to start acting like one.

[GuiltyByStander]

It's time for the Big Money to lose.

Take a look at what David Brooks and Mark Shields said in a Judy Woodruff interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRJ2us-0ZaU&v3

[lgillooly]

Biden/Edwards or vice versa is our best shot!!

[Livetotell525]

"Although Biden has proven experience as a foreign policy expert and consistently gained traction since the fall, his campaign continues to be hamstrung by a lack of money, paid professional staff, and organizing muscle to make him a real contender."

No, Biden's campaign has been hamstrung by the MSM not doing its job, i.e. the MSM preferring to focus on drama, catfights, celebrity & fluff. Fortunately, those voters who take the time to go beyond the MSM, dig deep & do their homework discover the more experienced, substantive candidates like Biden, Dodd, Richardson, etc.

[LyricalLexicon]

Biden's staff has to get attacked by bed bugs to get any coverage. That is a shame

[geobushono]

clearly god favors staffers with access to the
$100 million corporate donations.

[Oakland]

BED BUGS TRAVEL......They need to get out of there and some place clean - immediately.