For Joe Biden, the best of times and the worst of times were separated by a matter of weeks. On Nov. 7, 1972, Biden won his first Senate race by a hair. He would be one of the youngest Senators in history, beating the good ‘ol boy powers-that-be by promising to fight for the little guy and bring a sense of change to Washington. On Dec. 18, 1972, a tractor-trailer smashed into his wife’s car as she and the kids were on their way to pick up a Christmas tree. The love of his life, Neilia, and their one year old daughter, Naomi, died. Joe’s two young sons lay in hospital beds fighting desperately to cling to life.

Joe contemplated suicide. He was furious at God for playing such a cruel joke; he was set to give up his career before it ever started. Eventually, friends and family gave him the support he needed to pick himself up and carry on. He was sworn into office at his sons’ bedside. To this very day, his staff has standing orders that he be interrupted from whatever he is doing immediately if Beau or Hunter calls. He made it a practice that he rides back and forth from Washington to his modest home in New Castle every day to be with his family. And every year, Dec. 18 is a day of remembrance for him.

Joe doesn’t come across as the most likable guy in a debate. Partly because his words are forced as he’s had to overcome a debilitating stuttering problem as a youth, and partly because he truly is an angry man, still fighting for the little guy after all these years. Joe chaired the Judiciary Committee through both the highly contentious Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. So, yeah, he’s had his knuckles bruised on a few occassions.

Tomorrow night, Sarah Palin will charm America as a fighter who puts family first. Joe Biden has courageously been a fighter who puts family first his entire career. And he’s not about to quit now…