Let the tax battles begin.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden celebrate on stage at the election night party at McCormick Place, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Image by Carolyn Kaster / AP
A day after winning re-election, Vice President Joe Biden declared that he and President Barack Obama have a mandate for raising taxes on the wealthy.
Speaking aboard Air Force Two en route to his home in Delaware, Biden discussed the looming fiscal cliff, citing polling showing an advantage for the Democratic plan.
"But from what it appears is that, on the issue of the tax issue, there was a clear, a clear sort of mandate about people coming much closer to our view about how to deal with tax policy," Biden told reporterson the plane. I think we can move, I'd like to see us, I think we can do something on corporate taxes sooner than later. That would be positive, be a little confidence-building."
Biden predicted that Republicans will need to "digest" their loss and will find a way to deal with Democrats.
"I think the fever will break," he said. "And you know, Barack's re-elected so this sort of cause to keep a second term from happening's done. He's there for four years. So I think there's going to be - I hope there's going to be some real soul-searching about, on Republican Party, about what they're willing to cooperate on."
Asked about his role in the second term of the Obama White House, Biden predicted it will be the same.
"Look I am, the relationship is the same, one where the president and I have become good friends and confidants," he said. "I mean I assume my role will be the same, as I know it's shorthand, but literally the last guy in the room. I think I'll probably be asked to play a similar role on the debt issue as we did last time. I think my reaching out to the Congress and the Senate, but I also know I will be doing a lot of foreign policy. So, It'll be whatever the issue of the day is. Like I told him the first time, I only want those assignments that have a sell-by date, you know?"
