 Activism in journalism. Boy, that says it all, doesn't it? The next year, Biden ran for U.S. Senate seat held by an older popular Republican incumbent. Biden's campaign was widely thought folly, but he proved to be intellectually quick and attractive young candidate. He won in a year. Richard Nixon crushed his Democratic opposition across the country. Biden was not yet old enough to serve in the Senate. That would happen on his 30th birthday later in the month. The unions carried Biden to victory pretty much is what took place.