Long-time Biden loyalist Vitali mulling D.C. job opportunity

LYNN – Four decades of cross-country political campaigning have earned local attorney Richard Vitali a chance to consider a job in the Barack Obama presidential administration, possibly on vice president-elect Joseph Biden’s legal staff.”I’ve spoken to several people in the Biden campaign since the election who encouraged me to apply,” Vitali said Tuesday morning.Like thousands of other potential Obama administration hires, he is thumbing through the “plum book,” a lengthy list of federal jobs that will become vacant in January as one presidential administration exits and another takes center stage.”I’ve been asked to join and express an interest in what I would like to do.”The hiring process will last beyond Christmas and Vitali said he is not sure when he will make a decision or receive a more definitive job offer from presidential or vice presidential representatives.The prospect of going to Washington means Vitali, 55, must sever ties as a part-time city attorney and leave the Andrew Street law practice he shares with his brother.But a Washington job is once-in-a-lifetime reward for political loyalty to the Delaware senator stretching back to Biden’s unsuccessful 1987 presidential run.Biden’s speech making ability and compelling story of personal tragedy, including the loss of his first wife, drew Vitali to his campaign.When Biden cranked up his presidential campaign again in 2006, Vitali was on hand to help with the organization.He ate Thanksgiving dinner last year with Biden and his family and went to Iowa to run the critical caucus campaign there before participating in Biden’s national campaign.Biden dropped out of the primary campaign circuit as Obama emerged as the front-runner, but his selection as Obama’s running mate revived Biden’s – and Vitali’s – political fortunes.”Who ever thought we’d get a second chance?”