Biden's Dream: Finish Fourth

Joe Biden will be happy if he just doesn't lose too badly.

"Our goal is to come in fourth," said Luis Navarro, campaign manager for Biden, speaking at a campaign rally in a downtown Des Moines' restaurant that attracted more than 500 people.

In contrast, an Obama rally at the same time across town filled a school gymnasium.

The Biden folks aren't giving up, however. If Biden doesn't receive enough support to be viable on Thursday night, the dozen supporters with whom I spoke said they'll first try to recruit supporters from other non-viable candidates--Dodd, Kucinich, Richardson. If that doesn't work, they'll remain undecided.

Not one supporter with whom I spoke said she or he would go with one of the top three candidates, Clinton, Edwards or Obama.

"Jimmy Carter came in second to undecided in Iowa," John Washburn reminded me.

Overall, Biden supporters reiterated the Delaware senator's experience as the top reason to caucus for him.

"Ending the war is the key answer to everything else," said Jan Svec. "Biden has the connections and credibility in Washington to get that done."

They also lamented that the mainstream media had not paid more attention to their candidate. "He hasn't had the exposure or star power to attract the media," said Washburn. On the other hand, Washburn admitted that Iowa, where the candidate can speak directly to voters, had given Biden more of a shot than he might have had with his limited budget and resources.

"The top three campaigns are so organized," Washburn said. "They have the money, marketing, and people to create strong networks."

If Biden supporters perceive themselves as more on their own, they're stoic about it. Leaving the restaurant, their faces already pink with the cold, almost every person had some bit of campaign paraphernalia. "The Biden signs are the best," another reporter observed. "They're so sturdy."