Biden tries to rally past, potential supporters

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

Globe colleague Noah Bierman represented the Boston-area media today as he served as pool reporter for Vice President Joseph Biden's appearance at what Governor Deval Patrick termed a "friend-raiser" in the Hancock tower.

My preview story is here.

In his pool report, which the White House relayed to other reporters, Bierman said Biden addressed about 110 major Democratic donors on the building's 58th floor.

He also said the vice president spoke for 21 minutes, during which he tried to rally core financial supporters; recited administration accomplishments; and talked about the need to work with Republicans while repelling some policy goals he said would damage
the nation’s economic recovery and enlarge the deficit.

A storified version of the report's highlights:
 
“Thank you on behalf of Barack and myself for all the hard work you did," Biden told his Boston audience. "I would not be standing here. He would not be representing the United States of America in South America right now, were it not for the work of you folks in this room and probably another 1,000 like you all across America.”
 
He added: “It’s not just that we couldn’t have won without you. We will not be able to win
again without you.”

Biden also spoke about new Republican majority in US House of Representatives.

“The cuts that the Republicans are talking about would not only cripple the economy, but they would also enlarge the deficit," he said.

Biden said of the more conservative members elected recently, “They mix up the Tea Party that took place in Boston Harbor and the Tea Party they represent.”

But Biden also called it a “myth” that the White House cannot work with Republicans,
pointing to the 17-day lame duck session as more productive “than any time in
the last two years.”
 
Biden was introduced by Governor Deval Patrick, who is planning to serve as a surrogate campaigner for Obama and Biden in the coming campaign.

“We stopped the red tide here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and we have
many of you to thank for that," Patrick said.

Offering what what could be his own stump speech, Patrick said of Republicans: “They
have set as their goal, not how to make a better country, but to stop this
administration.”

Among those spotted in the crowd were advertising executive Jack Connors, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

The food included passed hors d'oeuvres of miniature beef “Wellington” and warm melted-brie tartlets.

Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.