Dems to use @JoeBiden for midterm push

The Democratic National Committee will start tweeting from @JoeBiden in an election-year push to benefit Democratic House and Senate candidates, the committee said on Monday.

“@JoeBiden will be another way for the Vice President to engage our supporters, spread the Democratic message and support our candidates heading into the midterm elections,” a DNC offical told TIME magazine, which first reported the news. 

{mosads}The @JoeBiden handle was launched by the Obama reelection campaign and has more than half a million followers, but has not been updated since January 2013. Biden currently tweets from @VP, the official White House account for the vice president.

Similarly, President Obama tweets occasionally from @WhiteHouse. His campaign Twitter handle — @BarackObama — is controlled by Organizing for Action, the independent political advocacy group that grew out of his reelection campaign.

During a speech to the DNC in February, Biden said he and the president had an “obligation” to help Democrats in the midterm elections. He said he had committed to assist 120 races this cycle, and that the pair would raise money “to help make this viable.”

“I’ll come campaign for you or against you, whichever will help you the most,” Biden said.

In the Senate, Democrats are defending 21 of the 36 seats up this fall, and Republicans have a shot at regaining a majority.

Democrats in red states like South Dakota, West Virginia and Montana have retired, and Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) are facing tough races.