Former Vice President Joe Biden conceded that he’s a “gaffe machine” but says he’s still the front-runner among Democratic presidential candidates in 2020 because he is the “most qualified.”
“I’ll be as straight with you as I can. I think I’m the most qualified person in the country to be president,” Biden, 76, said as he promoted his new book in Missoula, Mont., Monday evening, according to CNN.
“The issues that we face as a country today are the issues that have been in my wheelhouse, that I’ve worked on my whole life.”
Biden went further, saying America needs an experienced hand at the helm.
“No one should run for the job unless they believe that they would be qualified doing the job. I’ve been doing this my whole adult life,” Biden said.
The moderator at the event asked Biden about some of the liabilities that could negatively affect a White House campaign — including his age, his chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Anita Hill hearings and his constant gaffes.
“I am a gaffe machine, but my God what a wonderful thing compared to a guy who can’t tell the truth,” he responded.
The former vice president continued, “I’m ready to litigate all those things, the question is what kind of nation are we becoming? What are we going to do? Who are we?”