Public image of Joe Biden

Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy members of the Senate,[2][3][4] which he attributed to his having been elected young.[5] Feeling that less-wealthy public officials may be tempted to accept contributions in exchange for political favors, he proposed campaign finance reform measures during his first term.[6] As of November 2009, Biden's net worth was only $27,012.[7] By November 2020, the Bidens were worth $9 million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his vice presidency.[8][9][10]

The political writer Howard Fineman wrote, "Biden is not an academic, he's not a theoretical thinker, he's a great street pol. He comes from a long line of working people in Scranton—auto salesmen, car dealers, people who know how to make a sale. He has that great Irish gift."[11] Political columnist David S. Broder wrote that Biden has grown over time: "He responds to real people—that's been consistent throughout. And his ability to understand himself and deal with other politicians has gotten much much better."[11] Journalist James Traub has written, "Biden is the kind of fundamentally happy person who can be as generous toward others as he is to himself."[12] In 2006, Delaware newspaper columnist Harry F. Themal wrote that Biden "occupies the sensible center of the Democratic Party".[13]

In recent years, especially after the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Biden has been discussed for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.[14][15] CNN wrote in 2020 that his presidential campaign aimed to make him "healer-in-chief", while the New York Times described his extensive history of being called upon to give eulogies.[16]

In 2006, journalist and TV anchor Wolf Blitzer described Biden as loquacious.[17] According to Ben Smith, writing for Politico in 2008, Biden often deviates from prepared remarks[18] and according to Jake Tapper in 2007, Biden sometimes "puts his foot in his mouth".[19][20][21][22] In 2008, Mark Leibovich wrote for The New York Times that Biden's "weak filters make him capable of blurting out pretty much anything".[20] In 2018, Biden called himself a "gaffe machine".[23]

Biden's presidential approval rating is 42.3% (approval), and 53.0% (disapproval) as of April 24, 2022.[24] On August 30, 2021, Biden's approval rating fell to 47.2%, with 47.5% disapproving, a net disapproval, for the first time in his presidency up to that point.[25]

• In 2010, Biden was depicted in that year´s video retrospective by JibJab.
• During the 2020 election, Nice Peter impersonated Biden in a rap battle against Donald Trump in the internet series Epic Rap Battles of History.

• "Let's Go Brandon"