In many ways, last week’s testimonials were about both Beau Biden and Joe Biden.

Which raises an important question: In all the talk about the Democratic candidates for president in 2016, why isn’t Joe Biden at the top of the list?

Unlike the Republican clown car, Democrats already have four credible candidates for the nomination: Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee. But, in terms of experience and qualifications for the job, on both foreign policy and domestic matters, nobody tops Joe Biden.

During his 36 years in the Senate, he served as chairman of both the Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees, building an outstanding record on a wide variety of issues that reflect his own middle-class background, including consumer and environmental protection, the minimum wage, college aid, arms control and campaign reform.