WASHINGTON — Gaffe-prone Vice President Joe Biden backtracked yesterday from comments he made at a Democratic fund-raiser in Manhattan that were widely viewed as an endorsement of Gov. Paterson’s re-election.
“It was a statement of friendship and admiration for the governor, and was not intended as a political statement,” Biden spokes woman Elizabeth Alexander said.
Speaking of Paterson Mon day night, the loose- lipped Biden said, “Your once and future governor of the state of New York has been ex tremely generous to Barack and me and has been a major part of us trying to put this economy back together.”
The vice president’s com ments were significant be cause the unpopular Paterson is facing a possible Demo cratic primary challenge from state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Polls show Cuomo would trounce Paterson if the election were held today.
Asked about Biden’s endorsement — or at least the strong prediction that Paterson will enjoy re-election — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs punted.
“I have not seen the remarks,” he said. “But let me go see if I can find that and see what the context is.”
A short time later, Alexander issued her written statement explaining what Biden meant.
Biden is legendary for his off-the-wall gaffes — most recently contributing to the swine flu panic.
“I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now,” he said as the Obama administration was going to great pains to calm the public.
“It’s not that it’s going to Mexico,” Biden continued. “It’s you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft.”
That statement sent the White House press shop into superspin, assuring reporters that Biden had “misrepresented” himself.
Then there are the towel-snapping, back-slapping Biden gaffes such as when he goofed on Chief Justice John Roberts for botching Obama’s oath of office — drawing a positively hateful stare from the president.
churt@nypost.com