Poll: Many Americans Don't Know Biden

Many people are puzzled by the fact that Joe Biden is barely registering in the polls. According to a CBS poll, it appears that the majority of voters are not familiar with the candidate.

<(CBS) Delaware Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden may have been in Congress since 1972, but three quarters of registered voters say they don't have either a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him, a new CBS News poll finds.

Fifty-six percent of registered voters say they haven't heard enough about Biden to form an opinion. Nine percent say they have a favorable view of the candidate, while 15 percent say they have an unfavorable view. Nineteen percent are undecided.>

snip

<Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has discussed the idea of de-centralizing the Iraqi government and separating Iraq into three distinct regions. Asked about that idea in general, most Democratic primary voters (as well as nearly half of all voters) favor it. Fifty-two percent of Democratic primary voters favor separating Iraq into three parts, while 37 percent favor keeping Iraq under one government. >

Full story: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/18/opinion/polls/main3272744.shtml

Most voters haven't made a definite choice yet and have misgivings about some of the frontrunners. Joe Biden would be a fresh, new voice to those who are unfamiliar with him.

He was a "fresh, new voice" for me when I discovered him over three years ago and I'm not an easy sell.

so, there's still some movement in the numbers.

*chortle*

of wanting to vote for change. Their primary exposure is from the media -- who primarily focuses on the trio of Clinton/Obama/Edwards. There isn't the visual recognition of the other candidates that these three enjoy -- especially Clinton and Obama. And it must be a wet dream for the media -- a woman, an African American, and the bright-eyed sweet-faced candidate who is white and a guy. Diversity, get it?

I think it all boils down to money. If Biden had the 8-digit war chests of the Dream Trio he'd be getting more coverage. Same with the other off-the-radar candidates. With money they could be plastering themselves all over the airwaves.

It has been stated since the beginning of this round that the one with the most money will probably win, and thus far it's been a self-fulfilling prophecy.

There are also people who say it's too early to begin paying attention now, that they'll wait until the race narrows down. Unfortunately, by that time perhaps some of the people who could have benefited the country best will be long gone.

IMHO, natch. :7

About half of Democratic primary voters say it doesn't matter whether most of their nominee's experience is inside or outside Washington. Of those with a preference, more prefer someone from inside D.C.

PREFER A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE FROM…
(Democratic Primary Voters)
Outside Washington 18%
Inside Washington 28
Doesn't matter 49

There you go!

People want Biden - they just don't know it yet.