Biden is reportedly ready to fight back at critics who target his past stances

Former Vice President Joe Biden is reportedly ready to go on the defensive, and he'll lean heavily on his old boss and friend while doing so, Bloomberg reports.

In a speech during a campaign stop in Sumter, South Carolina, later on Saturday, Biden is expected to emphasize the fact that former President Barack Obama vetted and selected him to be his running mate in 2008, arguing that he'll take Obama's judgment over anyone else's, particularly when it comes to his record on issues of race and civil rights.

Biden has been the frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic nomination since even before he announced his campaign, but he has dropped in recent polls, especially after what many consider was a poor showing in the first primary debates. He has also been a frequent target of his fellow candidates, most notably Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) during the debates, for some of his past policy stances, as well as more recent comments in which he spoke favorably about pro-segregation members of Congress that he worked with in the past.

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Biden, Bloomberg reports, will reportedly make it clear on Saturday that he won't sit idly by while his opponents go after his record. Read more at Bloomberg.