Text of Biden's statement [View all]

[LongtimeAZDem]

"Folks, in the coming month, I expect to be talking to you about a whole lot of issues, and I'll always be direct with you. But today I want to talk about gestures of support and encouragement that I've made to women and some men that have made them uncomfortable.

And I've always tried to be, in my career, I've always tried to make a human connection. That's my responsibility I think. I shake hands. I hug people. I grab men and women by the shoulders and say 'you can do this,' And, whether they're women, men, young, old, it's the way I've always been. The way I've tried to show I care about them and I'm listening.

And over the years, knowing what I've been through, the things that I've faced, I've found that scores, if not hundreds of people who've come up to me and reached out for solace, comfort, something, something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy they're going through.

And so it's just who I am. And I've never thought of politics as cold and antiseptic, I've thought about connecting with people. As I said, shaking hands, hands on the shoulder, a hug, encouragement. And now it's all about taking selfies together.

You know, social norms have begun to change, they've shifted. And the boundaries of producing personal space have been reset and I get it. I get it. I hear what they're saying. I understand it. And I'll be much more mindful, that's my responsibility. My responsibility and I'll meet it. But I'll always believe — governing, quite frankly, life, for that matter, is about connecting, about connecting with people. That won't change, but I will be more mindful and respectful of people's personal space, and that's a good thing. That's a good thing.

I've worked my whole life to empower women, I've worked my whole life to prevent abuse. (I've written a) and so the idea that I can't adjust to the fact that personal space is important, more important than its ever been is just unthinkable. I will. I will."