Just days before the Democratic Convention in Denver gets underway, Barack Obama has bitten the bullet and selected Joe Biden, the six-term senator from Delaware, as his running mate. The selection of the 65-year-old Biden ends weeks of speculation over the number two spot on the ticket and confirmed there is no place for Hillary Clinton.
The likeable Biden brings to the ticket a wealth of experience, especially in foreign policy in his current capacity as chairman of the influential Foreign Relations Committee. However more important to Obama's presidential ambitions, he has broad white working-class voter appeal. It also does not hurt that Biden was born in Pennyslvania, a vital swing state.
In selecting Biden, Obama has signaled clearly what this week's Democratic National Convention will be about: He intends to move aggressively to ease the problems that have worried so many Democrats in recent weeks -- problems, it turns out, that Obama is worried about, too.Overseas the reaction has been generally muted, though supportive. The Financial Times has described Biden as a safe pair of hands with the message to voters that he will be a moderating influence on the Democratic campaign.
One of them concerns the limits of Obama's appeal to the white working class. Biden's unveiling was one long ode to line workers, cops and firefighters, to hard work and struggling families, to shuttered steel mills and lost manufacturing jobs. [source]
Mr Biden is a decades-in-Congress senator from Delaware, a reliably Democratic state, and one of the best-known politicians in the US. He brings no electoral-college dowry, and injects no great surge of excitement into the race. He signals instead a moderate course adjustment, and bolsters the Obama candidacy where it most needs support.[source]
So was the choice of Biden an attempt to shore up Obama's vote in areas where he is vulnerable? The Illinois senator, at one stage leading steadily in the opinion polls, has slipped in recent weeks in the aftermath of the Georgian crisis giving Republican McCain a slender advantage. Though other factors may have been involved, many pundits are positing that Americans took another look at the inexperienced senator in the wake of renewed Russian aggression in the Caucasus and didn't like what they saw.
Obama's seemingly more cautious and diplomatic tone contrasted with McCain's clever and opportunist sabre-rattling against old foe Russia which appears to have hit a chord with voters. The selection of the experienced and mature Biden seems to have been made partly to offset McCain's perceived advantages in these areas. His broad appeal to working-class white voters, whose support is essential if Obama is to become president, may also neutralise the losses Obama will make by not selecting Hillary Clinton as running mate.
But is the selection of Biden an admission that the inexperienced Obama is not ready to be president, as contended by the McCain camp? Though Biden brings a lot of positive qualities to the ticket, his selection does seem to be made for the wrong reasons -- to plug leaking holes in the Obama campaign. There are also some risks associated with the Biden nomination, how his Catholicism will play in the wider voting community and the fact that the country's south is not represented on the ticket.
With all the colour and movement of the fair (Democratic Convention) about to get underway, expect Obama/Biden to throw the switch to "it's the economy stupid" and concentrate more on the economy and those vital but elusive white, working class voters.
For a taster, here's an excerpt of Biden's acceptance speech:
"Your kitchen table's like mine," Biden said. "You sit there at night, after you put the kids to bed, and you talk. You talk about what you need. You talk about how much you're worried about being able to pay the bills. But ladies and gentlemen, that's not a worry John McCain has to worry about. It's a pretty hard experience -- he'll have to figure out which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at...He [McCain] served our country with extraordinary courage, and I know he wants to do right by America," Biden said of McCain. "But the hard truth is ... you can't change America when you supported George Bush's policies 95 percent of the time." [source]
Your thoughts?
Image top: Senator Joe Biden. Credit: U.S. Congress
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America is America, Why need to change America? I may not like George Bush but I am dead sure that he loves America. He is the most innocent American President led by a bunch of self-serving crooks. I think McCain is able to see the positives in him and the negatives of those around him.
Biden is a great choice, and you will see why soon. In short, he knows we need to change. Those who don't know why haven't been paying attention. Our military is stretched too thin, hasn't been given the money it should, our troops are treated poorly when the come home, our schools are unattended to, our roads, bridges...and then there is energy. We don't need to drill. If you want to, fine, you have millions of acres on which to do so now. You don't need more. What are you waiting for? What we really need is a President who commits to a complex cocktail of energy solutions, and starts it now. What we don't need is a President who thinks our economy is in great shape, doesn't know why the middle class is getting poorer and furthermore doesn't appear to care. We don't need another president like George Bush. It's not America we need to change, it's American policies which continue to embarrass us over seas and drive our economy down, with the rich still getting richer. Senator Biden will be happy to discuss all of this on a national stage, coming from the same background as the average American.
SENATURD JOE'it-aint-a-hairplug-it-was-a-brain-transplant'BIDEN is supposed to be an 'expert' on foreign policy - 'Hairplug'JOE is still dancing the macarena with MADDY'fatass'ALLWRONG + the dog-eating dictator of NKOREA to solve the nuclear questionwhile he divides up IRAQ into 3 areas so TONY REZKO and the CHICAGO DEMBHOLE TURDS can get somemore good housing deals!!! BRILLANT ON 'FOREIGN POLICY' RIGHT??? Ha. 'Hairplug'JOE needs to spend more time with his sons+brother - so he can dig them out of all the unethical/illegal contracts/perks he has got them with his influence as a US SENATURD!!! PASS A STRICTER LAW ON FILING AGAINST BANKRUPTCIES TO HELP BANKS WHILKE YOUR SON GOT A 'JOB' AS A CONSULTANT FOR BANK CREDIT CARD COMPANIES EH SENATURD 'Hairplug'JOE???!!! Some ticket of 'HOPE&CHANGE' - sounds like the 'SAME-OLD-SAME-OLD' in corrupt insider WASHINGTON don't it??? SENATURD DEMBHOLE 'Hairplug'JOE BIDEN - for 36 years a corrupt hack. A perfekt pick for 'Veep'.
At least the VP would like America (unlike the Pres-to-be Obama), that's a bonus I suppose.
How could Biden possibly fill the gaps in Obama's experience? pshaw! B.O. has learned in excruciating detail everything he'll ever need to know regarding Foreign Policy, National Defence, American Economics, Health Care for All, Taxation, Energy Policy, etc. AND he's done it all in eight years. Of course, he did get a jump start on his first lessons through immersion learning in Chicago (vote early, vote often) Politics.
Obama supporters keep chanting the mantra of how Barack Obama
is the candidate who can unite our country ... but, Obama couldn't
even unite his own party ... even after winning the nomination. And,
in reality, McCain has the history of working across the aisle in congress.
Obama has brainwashed his followers into making decision based on 'belief', rather
than reason ... just as he learned in Jeremiah Wright's church ... you can lead people through the power of BLIND faith. Even his campaign solgan is based on belief, not common sense, logic, or reason. Obama's even got his followers publicly denouncing the importance of experience ... as if that's the reason Bush performed poorly ... when the real reason Obama and his followers denounce experience, is because
Obama doesn't have any.
Keep America Strong ... Elect Senator John McCain in November !!!
My goodness--I guess we don't like Obama.SOOOO let's go another 4 years with a dink like Bush--haven't you people had enough of them. I once heard they were grooming Jeb for the White House. Jesus H Christ put the war mongers to rest. At least Michelle Obama is a real women unlike McCain's pretty, pretty princess.
Bu--sh-t.....The experience needed in this age of high speed info and low speed UN decision making DEMANDS the experience of John McCain. McCain has never been afraid to reach over to non republicans who happened to be correct on many, many issues...such as maintaining support (reasonable) for Israel, keeping hope alive for Western Hemisphere trade progress unlike any other candidate of either party
and, an ability to scare the sh-- out of our potential enemies without saber-rattling. (a skill George Bush did not possess). Unfair taxation of the middle class believe it or not will not be tolerated by J.M. nor will pork barrel deal making in congress. There's no way an inexperienced young neophyte like Obama could hold down foreign policy decisions AND avoid inside party fighting and mug shooting for the cameras while our national interests go wanting. I will not only vote for McCain but will turn my energy into twenty more votes for him
Better than a choice of Hillary, but still an admission of Obama's weaknesses.
Biden is a jerk, plain and simple. I could deal with Obama as president, but the mere thought of Joe Biden in the Oval Office scares the heck out of me.
Oh, and Sherri is clearly a hater.
Who needs another 4 years with Mr Bush twin we sure canot afford it.
Wow. Reading these comments we need a president who can teach Americans how to write, type and converse like adults. It's pretty sad.
McCain's choice of Palin proves him incompetent and reckless. McCain had only met with Palin one time before he chose her to be his running mate. His staff had not vetted her. And yet he chose her to be a 72-76 year old heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States of America. McCain's poor judgement mirrors that of Bush's. Palin (and all republicans), continue to give big oil ownership of America, your wallet, and eventually your mortgage. Not to mention the fact that conservative republicans despise the Constitution of the United States, (not that Americans really care about small details like that - their main concern is being able to afford milk right now.)
McCain has his good points but his negative pointis his age and not wanting to stop war. Obama seems a good choice because he will change america as first black president,,lets hope he changes alot within the USA and of course get us out of this messy war wich the tax payers are tired of.As the whole world!!
Joe Biden is an excellent choice. Senator Biden is a family man who was mom and dad to his children. When a father take on two roles in the home the media doesn't go to the extreme and put this before the American People. The media is not putting out the sexism that men endure. There is more sexism against men than women. Joe Biden also has the experience that is required as a foreign agent for the president. When a person become a president or the head of any entity, the best quality that the individual can have is to diligate task or have expertise of individual who can and will assist with making pertinent decison regarding foriegn policy etc. I am delighted that, Senator Biden has been given the opportunity to assist with leading this country to a new level of change. Senator Biden has the attitude and experience to admit that this country is in need of a change.This election should not be about popularity and personality we need to focus on the issues, not whether they or a woman or a man. I feel some women are taking the issue of sexism to far. No one has spoke about the African American man who has been pushed out of the workplace because women have been listed as a minority. More White women have corporate jobs than African American men who are getting hire, nevertheless are not beening promoted to higher level jobs. In the workplace they are look over when there are promotions. This has been my observation for the last 30 years.
sherri - michelle SNOBama is "a real women"? I know she thinks she is smarter than Hillybill, greater than Opry, classier than Jackie O, the list drones on and on...but isn't she "just a woman"? BTW - what's wrong with hot looking rich women? Last time I checked, Cindy wasn't running for "Co-President" like the big MO.
"Iddy biddy biden" for VP? Sarah is our girl!!!!