Biden to Dems: 'Keep the faith'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday urged party leaders to "keep the faith" in the face a devastating Senate election loss last week.

Speaking before members of the Democratic National Committee's National Finance Committee and National Advisory Board in Washington, Biden referred to gloom surrounding the party following its defeat in last week's special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat of the late Edward Kennedy, in which it lost its filibuster-proof 60-seat majority.

"When it's 60, the Republicans can afford to say they need not participate at all," Biden said. "I am still as convinced as I was in the beginning, the leadership and resolve of this man, President Barack Obama, is going to be made absolutely clear by all the American people by next election day.

"So folks, I ask you only one thing: Keep the faith, keep the faith. There is no reason for us to be down."

Biden advised Democrats to "take a deep breath, take a deep breath, let's put this in perspective. Yeah, we took a hit and the frustration was aggravated by the fact that Teddy's seat was lost. That makes it sound more profound than it is."