Joe Biden joked about his past of inappropriately touching women at a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Tuesday, scoring a laugh from the audience.
The leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate grabbed an empty chair and carried it over to a woman in the audience who was sitting on the floor. Biden helped the lady to her feet while she laughed and called him a “sweetheart.”
Once on her feet, the lady put an arm on Biden’s shoulder and spoke to him. It’s unclear what the lady told him and, after talking with her, Biden told the audience, “We have a secret going here.”
Biden, 76, then addressed the press, saying, “And I want the press to know, she pulled me close. I just want you to know, OK?” The crowd responded with laughter.
Biden has battled allegations of unwanted touching of women since announcing his candidacy in April.
The former vice president is featured in numerous pictures rubbing women’s shoulders and sniffing their hair. Eight women alleged he touched them improperly. He stopped short of an apology but promised to mend his ways
Last week, Biden told a girl of 10 she was “good-looking” and placed his hands on her shoulders from behind.
