Joe Biden’s life was forged in the school of hard knocks while Donald Trump enjoyed a privileged upbringing, with an obvious effect on the men’s politics, writes Bette Browne

JOE Biden was a no-show last year, so US president Barack Obama’s confirmation last week that his vice-president plans to visit Ireland may not have set the political world on fire.

America needs “more than a good soldier” as its next president and Republican John McCain only offers “more of the same”, Barack Obama’s running mate said today.