Biden in full charm mode at Heller swearing-in

Vice President Joe Biden shakes hands Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., in the Old Senate Chambers on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, May 9, 2011, after a mock swearing in ceremony for Heller. Heller's wife Lynne Heller is at center. PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vice President Joe Biden was in full charm mode as he met with new senator Dean Heller and his family on Monday.

Minutes after conducting Heller's formal swearing-in on the Senate floor, where family members were barred and cameras were not allowed, Biden convened the customary re-enactment a few minutes later in the historic Old Senate Chamber down the hall.

There, with cameras snapping and reporters eavesdropping, Biden showed how he earned a reputation as a schmoozer of the first order.

Entering the room, the vice president began shaking hands. After being introduced to Heller's oldest daughter and her husband, Hilary and Edward Ableser, he looked at the husband and declared, "You married up!"

"To say the least," Ableser replied.

After being introduced to Heller's sons Harris and Drew, and youngest daughter Emmy, Biden exclaimed, "This is a good looking family." Then he looked over at Heller's wife Lynne. "And now I know why!"

When it was pointed out that Hilary was pregnant and due in October, Biden pulled her to stand beside him and engaged the Hellers in a discussion about the relative merits of daughters and sons.

"The thing is, with sons, no matter what age they are, you always know where they stood," Biden said. "With daughters.....

"First of all God made a mistake," Biden said, then stopped to tell reporters he was joking. But, he went on, "what should have happened is God should have spared fathers and had our daughters born beautiful but when they turn 12 or 13, turn them ugly and so they are not beautiful again until 21."

Biden invited the Hellers to visit he and his wife Jill at the Vice President's official residence, a mansion in an a leafy neighborhood uptown.

"I always voted for public housing but I never knew it was going to be this good," Biden joked.