Jon Stewart is bemused by the great Hillary Clinton–Joe Biden 'poor-off'


On Tuesday night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart took note of the recent comments by Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in which they insist that they aren't really wealthy, or haven't been in the recent past. Neither politician is hurting for money, so Stewart decided to playfully pit their rival claims to modest means against each other, in a down-home "poor-off" — the evident Southern flavor is curious, given that Biden is from Pennsylvania/Delaware and Clinton grew up in Illinois.
But Stewart's point is almost beyond dispute: "What's with the poverty Tourette's?" he asked. "Why do these two seem to think we need a hobo for president?" Also, why does Biden or Clinton think America will buy their middle-class pretensions. Still, Stewart does declare a winner of the "poor-off." Spoiler: It's Biden. --Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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