I looked to see if I could find evidence to support Joe Biden's claim today that he had "'hundred of thousands' of people at his announcement speech for his first U.S. Senate run" in 1972. Tip to Ben Smith.

In 1972, Joe Biden was elected to the Senate with 116,006 votes (50.5%); his Republican opponent received 112,844 votes.

So far I can find no evidence that when 29-year-old New Castle County Council member Joe Biden announced his candidacy for the US Senate in 1971-72, every voter in the state, both Republican and Democratic, took off from work or childrearing to hear him speak in person.

Maybe some of our Delaware readers are old enough to remember such an amazing day. It must be seared — seared — into their memories.