[512][n 4]

Reputation
Main article: Public image of Joe Biden
President Obama presents Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, January 12, 2017.
Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy members of the Senate,[515][516][517] which he attributed to his having been elected young.[518] 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.[97] As of November 2009[update], Biden's net worth was $27,012.[519] By November 2020[update], the Bidens were worth $9 million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his vice presidency.[520][521][522][523]
The political writer Howard Fineman has written, "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."[43] 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.