Biden v. Palin — The Re-Match

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

Campaigning in an upstate New York congressional district, Vice President Joe Biden today attacked his one-time opponent, Sarah Palin, who has led a succession of big-name Republicans in backing the candidacy of the Conservative Party nominee.

“Sarah Palin thinks the answer to energy is ‘Drill, baby, drill,' ” Biden said at a rally this afternoon. Then he leaned in to the microphone: “It's a lot more complicated, Sarah.”

Biden called on Democrats to “join us in teaching a lesson” to a Republican Party he said is promoting “absolutism” and “cannot tolerate any dissent.”

On Saturday, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race in New York's 23rd congressional district, as she saw her support crater in part because Republicans like Palin questioned her conservative credentials. Scozzafava on Sunday endorsed Democrat Bill Owens for the seat.

UPDATE: Palin responded to the vice president's comments via — of course — her Facebook page, blasting the Obama administration's energy policies.

“Apparently the Obama-Biden administration only approves of offshore drilling in Brazil, where it will provide security and jobs for Brazilians. This election is about American security and American jobs,” Palin writes.

And she closes with a new twist on a famous slogan: “There's one way to tell Vice President Biden that we're tired of folks in Washington distorting our message and hampering our nation's progress: Hoffman, Baby, Hoffman!”

David Plouffe: First Biden Meeting ‘Confirmed What We Suspected’

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

In addition to fascinating insights into President Obama's thinking in not choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate, the new memoir written by his campaign manager has an anecdote that's likely to feed perceptions of Vice President Joe Biden's well-known propensity for going on — and on. Literally.

David Plouffe writes that in their initial meeting with Biden to discuss a spot on the ticket, he and senior Obama adviser “couldn't get a word in edgewise.”

“The [first] meeting started with Biden launching into a nearly 20-minute monologue that ranged from the strength of our campaign in Iowa ('I literally wouldn't have run if I knew the steamroller you guys would put together'); to his evolving views of Obama ('I wasn't sure about him in the beginning of the campaign, but I am now'); why he didn't want to be VP ('The last thing I should do is VP; after 36 years of being the top dog, it will be hard to be No. 2'); why he was a good choice ('But I would be a good soldier and could provide real value, domestically and internationally'); and everything else under the sun. Ax and I couldn't get a word in edgewise,” Plouffe writes, in an excerpt published by Time magazine.

Plouffe continues: “It confirmed what we suspected: this dog could not be taught new tricks. But the conversation also confirmed our positive assumptions: his firm grasp of issues, his blue collar sensibilities and the fact that while he would readily accept the VP slot if offered, he was not pining for it.”

Biden vs. Castle?

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports:

Republican Congressman Mike Castle — a popular former two-term governor who has served as Delaware's sole member of House for 17 years — is expected to announce today whether he plans to run for Senate. He has called a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware today at noon.

UPDATE:Castle is running for Senate, a GOP official with knowledge of his plans tells ABC News.

Castle has been considering a run for Senate, a prospect that would likely pit him against Beau Biden, the Delaware AG, Iraq War veteran and son of the vice president. It would be quite a race. Castle hasn't lost an election since he was first elected to the state legislature in 1966. Biden hasn't announced his intentions, but he is expected to run for Dad's old seat.

Republicans are hopeful that Castle will announce he is running. A top Democratic operative tells me, “It doesn't smell good for us.”

Castle's office isn't talking; they won't even say why he is holding the press conference.

Biden Hits the 2010 Fundraising Circuit

ABC News’ David Chalian reports: The Obama administration will not quite yet be two months old when Vice President Biden will be dispatched for a fundraising gig for the 2010 midterm election cycle. The Vice President plans to be in Little Rock on Saturday March 14 to help Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., kick off her reelection campaign.

Supporters willing to cough up at least $150 will be able to secure a ticket to hear from the vice president.

In addition to assuming the portion of his vice presidential role that is the political fundraising circuit, Vice President Biden served in the Senate for 36 years and the relationships he has with his former Democratic colleagues will no doubt be called upon to help fill their coffers between now and November 2010.

Simply by being a Democrat in a state won by Sen. McCain in 2008 will cause national Republicans to put Sen. Lincoln’s seat on their initial target list. However, no serious Republican contender has jumped into the race. Last December, former Karl Rove aide Tim Griffin said he is considering making a run for Sen. Lincoln’s seat. Mr. Griffin served as interim US Attorney in Arkansas for six months, but it was not without controversy. His appointment was part of the investigation into the Bush Administration’s handling of US Attorney appointments which eventually led to Alberto Gonzales’ 2007 resignation as Attorney General.

Twenty months out from Election Day, Sen. Lincoln looks to be in pretty good shape to be elected to third term. In her 2004 race, she won with 56% of the vote. At the end of last year, Sen. Lincoln had $810,000 in her campaign account. It is likely no accident that the Biden event is scheduled two weeks before the end of the first quarter reporting period. With the help of the Vice President, Sen. Lincoln hopes to ward off potential Republican opponents by posting an impressive first quarter haul.

“The Vice President?s values are consistent with the values of most Arkansas families and I look forward to welcoming him to Little Rock next month,? Sen. Lincoln said when announcing the visit.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly seized on those comments.

?Blanche Lincoln?s assessment that Vice President Biden is in touch with Arkansas values begs a much greater question ? how out of touch is Blanche Lincoln with her own constituents?? said NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson.