Biden Leaves Senate, Kaufman Steps In (Sen. Tom Carper)

While we lament the loss of Joe Biden in the United States Senate, we are all thrilled that he’s going to have the opportunity to become the first Delawarean ever to be Vice President of the United States. And, as wonderful as he was as a senator, he’ll be even better for our country in his new role. So this is a good change, for the Administration, for the country, and I think, ultimately, for Delaware.

If we had to lose Joe Biden to the vice presidency, we could not ask for a better person to take his place than Ted Kaufman. Ted was sworn in today, already steeped in the knowledge of the Senate. He knows the players, he knows the way this place works, and he has a good idea,  of how to make it work better.

My friend Joe has been in the Senate for 36 years and for over half those years, Sen. Kaufman was his chief of staff, and maybe, in a sense, his alter ego. I think it’s fair to say that Joe would not have been the only senator in our state’s history to be elected to seven Senate terms if it were not but for the support of Ted, and not just for those 19 years as chief of staff, but for being his friend all these years. Ted has worked with Joe through two presidential campaigns; has been his advisor and counselor, and always had Joe’s back.

Sen. Kaufman is smart. We have a lot of smart people here, but he’s also wise. He is a wonderful speaker. There are a lot of good speakers here, but he’s also a very good listener. And while Sen. Kaufman takes his work seriously and will take our work seriously, one of the things I love about him is he doesn’t take himself all that seriously.

Sen. Ted Kaufman is a good colleague and a great friend.