Joe Biden first got into politics when he ran for the New Castle County Council as a Democrat. He promised in this first election to support a public housing initiative, and he won the seat. Biden served as a New Castle County Councilman from 1970 to 1972, at which time he decided to run for the US Senate. Biden was interested in the seat held by Republican J. Caleb Boggs. Boggs wanted to retire, but his retirement would mean a vicious primary fight for the Republican party. In order to avoid this, President Nixon asked Boggs to run again for the good of the Republican party and Boggs agreed to do so. Because he was a popular incumbent, no Democrats wanted to run against him—except the young and tenacious Joe Biden.

Joe Biden’s first senate campaign had very little money and was managed by his sister, Valerie Biden Owens. Most…