Biden says Democratic race not a 'debacle'

HARTFORD, Conn., April 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden says he sees no problem with Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battling it out for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The six-term Delaware Democrat said whoever wins the nomination will have the party's support in November, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Tuesday.

"Count me as one of the people who doesn't view this as a debacle," Biden said Monday night at a fundraiser for Connecticut Democrats. "Whoever the nominee is, the party will rally."

Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama, D-Ill., are in a heated race for the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Both senators are hoping for wins in Indiana and North Carolina, which hold their primaries May 6.

As for the presumptive Republican nominee, Biden praised Arizona Sen. John McCain for opposing torture for terror suspects, but said his policies are too similar to those of President George Bush.

"There is no difference between John McCain and George Bush," Biden said. "They are joined at the hip."