Biden would back Wilkins for ambassador

e-mail this story

Wilkins, of Greenville, has neither confirmed nor denied that he is being considered for the post by President Bush. Wilkins was Bush's state co-chairman in 2000 and re-election chairman in 2004.

Biden is a senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, the panel that reviews ambassadorial nominations. He was in Columbia to keynote Friday night's Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

Meeting with reporters, Biden said Wilkins "is known as an honorable man, a man of integrity." Biden said the president is entitled to his choice for ambassador unless the nominee would reflect badly on the country and lack competence.

"Based on what I know of the speaker, he does not fall into either one of those categories. Based on what I know, if I had to vote now, I'd vote aye," he said.

The Delaware senator made it plain he is considering a run for the 2008 presidential nomination.

"This year, I'm going out and seeing if the message I think this party should carry is one that it's in agreement with," Biden said. "The process has only just begun and, hopefully, by the end of the year I'll assess whether it's worth doing."

Biden also said the Democratic Party cannot again afford to write of the now Republican-dominated South.

"I refuse to believe that the people of the South or border states like mine are fundamentally at odds with the principles of the Democratic Party. The Republicans have been extremely deft at engaging in the use of wedge issues and we have been extremely inept, including myself, in responding to that," he said.

Biden said inability to compete in the South is acceptance "that this is a divided nation and I refuse to accept that."

More than 750 Democrats attended the dinner, which was expected to raise more than $150,000 for the party.

Today, Democratic delegates will gather for their off-year state convention. Chairman Joe Erwin of Greenville is expected to easily win a second term.

While the day's business will be low-key, party officials have added "a special announcement" to the morning's agenda, fueling speculation that a gubernatorial announcement will be made.

Two Democrats — state Sen. Tommy Moore of Clearwater and Florence Mayor Frank Willis — have said they're considering a challenge to Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

Staff writer Dan Hoover covers politics and can be reached at 298-4883.