Biden says he regrets remarks on Obama

WASHINGTON -- Senator Joseph Biden tried yesterday to stem the damage from the botched launch of his presidential campaign as underdog candidates in the Democratic field looked to gain momentum from the party faithful.

The Democratic National Committee wrapped up a three-day winter meeting that offered speeches from all 10 candidates already in the race or considering a bid. Those leading in the polls all appeared Friday.

The crowd thinned to less than half yesterday, but those in attendance were no less enthusiastic. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico stirred them by calling for a primary without negative campaigning and saying he would bring troops home from Iraq by the end of the year.

"Maybe I'm not up there in all these polls, but you are the deciders, not the man in the White House," Richardson said to cheers. "I say to you today, stay loose. We've got a year to go."

Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor, positioned himself as a Washington outsider with a record of real change. He criticized senators in the race who refuse to cut the money that is paying for troops in Iraq.

Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York are advocating a cap to the number of troops and their eventual withdrawal.

"The reality of capping troops or reducing the number of troops at some point in the future is not real change," Vilsack said. "It is time for us to clearly say the war must end and our troops must be brought home now."

Biden got right to the matter that has threatened his candidacy before it even gets off the ground.

The Delaware senator spent his first day as an official candidate Wednesday explaining his statement that Obama is "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean," raising questions about how he viewed other black candidates.

"I want to say that I truly regret that the words I spoke offended people that I admire very much," Biden said.