SCARBOROUGH: We all are asking about Donald Trump. You're talking about a guy who's connecting with those workers in Scranton, Pa., who's connecting with those people in Youngstown, Ohio, who's connecting with those white, working-class voters in a way that you have your entire career — and a way that Hillary Clinton is not. You can just look at the numbers right now. Why is that?

BIDEN: That's why I'm going to be living in Pennsylvania and Ohio and Michigan —

SCARBOROUGH: — over the next six months. But why is that?

BIDEN: I think it's two reasons. One, I think the Democratic Party overall hasn't spoken enough to those voters. They've done the right thing for the voters — haven't spoken to them. ...

SCARBOROUGH: Have Democrats stopped talking to white, working-class voters?

BIDEN: I think we have, in part. And the reason is we've been consumed with crisis after crisis after crisis. And so I go in my old neighborhoods, and they go, "Joe. Hey, Joe, over here. What about me?" And I say, "Well, look, all these things that are happening."

Look, you know, what are the things that affect middle-class families? Let me define what I mean by middle-class: Being able to own your own house, not have to rent it. Being able to send your kid to a park; they can come home safe. Being able to take care of your geriatric parent after the other one dies. Being able to send your kid to a local school; they do well, they get to college, and if they get there you can get 'em there, if they get in. That's not asking too much. And so I say, "Look. Look what we're doing. Look what we're doing on college assistance and Pell grants." We have the right policies, but I don't think we spend enough time — I know we're running out of time.

Let me say it this way: I had a Senate staff, and it was pretty consistent. I mean, they knew me well, and they knew my modus operandi. Got to be vice president. New people, new staff. And anybody who would begin to say, "You're going to speak to such and such; here's an outline," and I said, "Just every speech you write, just understand one thing: In the very beginning, make sure that they know that I know what they're concerned about, that I know what their problem is. Whether I agree with them or not on the solution, let them know that I know what's worrying them and why it's not illegitimate that they're worried. And then give an answer." We instead go in and sort of — in the old days, the "limousine liberals" — we go in and say, "I got the answer for you."