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Photograph of the Democratic ticket, Obama and Biden, taken last year at an AFL-CIO forum by Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has finally made his decision for his running mate and announced that he was selecting Senator Joseph Biden through a series of text messages that went out after 3:00 a.m. An e-mail--from Obama "himself"--later followed, saying, "I have some important news that I want to make official. I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate. Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago." (And then Obama asks for help with his campaign.)
Naturally, Joe Biden's personal website--www.joebiden.com--now directs to the Barack Obama website's page about the announcement. Of course, the cat seemed out of the bag when ABC News reported a Secret Service detail was stationed outside Biden's home in Delaware last night.
Biden had been on the apparently VP shortlist, but, as CNN reports, "the buzz surrounding him intensified after he returned earlier this week from a two-day trip to the Republic of Georgia after Russian troops invaded." A U.S. Senator since 1972 (he was 30 at the time), Biden brings the foreign policy and overall longtime political experience that Obama's critics have said the candidate lacks. The NY Times explains:
It reflected a critical strategic choice by Mr. Obama: To go with a running mate who could reassure voters about gaps in his résumé, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama’s message of change.The Washington Post points out Biden "has shown on numerous occasions a difficulty in maintaining the kind of message discipline at which Obama has excelled" and then brings up his remarks that Obama was "the first mainstream African American [presidential candidate] who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."Mr. Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is familiar with foreign leaders and diplomats around the world. Although he initially voted to authorize the war in Iraq — Mr. Obama opposed it from the start — Mr. Biden became a persistent critic of President George W. Bush’s policies in Iraq.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has already come out swinging, by issuing a new ad that takes advantage of Biden's earlier criticism of Obama and flattering remarks Biden made about McCain. (Video after the jump)
This afternoon, Obama and Biden will make their first appearance as the Democratic ticket in Springfield, IL at 3 p.m. EST.
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The overall sentiment in the USA hasn't changed enough for Obama to win. Red states will still vote Republican. Ohio and Florida are going to McCain. My money is on McCain to win.
republicans sure love to fuck over the people of the US.
oof, that's a good ad. damn.
ugh...I was hoping for the Kansas gov to get the nod. That would not have been politics as usual, which is what Biden represents...
dude. obama got pwned in that ad.
So McCain's going to pick Mitt Romney and let the Democrats use soundbites from their debate to wrap Romney's criticisms around McCain's neck?
So, THAT'S what passes for "coming out swinging"? Please bring grampa inside... he doesn't realize that it's raining.
In McCain's defense on the "how many homes does he own" flap... he had the answer written down on a piece of paper, but he must have left it in his other private jet.
aveB4life: "dude. obama got pwned in that ad."
Haven't been around politics much, huh? As NannyState says:"So McCain's going to pick Mitt Romney and let the Democrats use soundbites from their debate to wrap Romney's criticisms around McCain's neck?"
That's nothing but business as usual. Now, the "how many homes" ads...THAT'S getting pwned! McCain's fighting like a petulant little kid, and the big boys are going to spank him... hard!
Presumably the Obama team knew this was coming.
I hit "Post" a little early there. My point is that no matter who the candidates chose, there will be something malicious to throw out there. The only way around this would be to pick an android not involved in politics. Unfortunately for McCain, he might have to pick an android who IS involved in politics.
looks like McCain is going to pick Kerry as his VP..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542473
Well, unless McCain does something totally unforgivable (like worse than starting a war for fraudulent reasons or violating our civil rights arbitrarily), he'll win the election. So I'm all for whoever Obama picks, I'd vote for him even if he'd chosen Micky Friggin' Mouse. But unless everyone comes out to vote who's been sitting on their lazy passive asses for the last eight years, it'll be McCain and the insanity as usual.
I really don't understand why you people think Obama is something short of a messiah.
Nothing.
Will.
Change.
Ooh, a guy who has been in the Senate since Nixon was President. That is real change. Not that the other side's option is any better.
If McCain wins this election, I'll lose the last shred of respect I have for the population of the US at large. I didn't have much to start with, but if people can go through the past 8 years and come out asking for more....well, then there's not much left that can be done.
Great McCain ad.
I like the fact that Biden is a straight shooter. He was the one who pointed out that Obama is a clean articulate African American guy. I think Americans agree and are smitten by that fact.
Biden is a bore. McCain should pick a young dynamo to counter.
www.ericcantorforvp.com
I have mixed emotions on this choice. Biden is a loudmouth who loves hearing himself talk (and putting his foot in my mouth). That said, it's tough to dispute that his resume doesn't compliment Obama very well. Sure, he's not exciting, but Obama already has the flashy sex appeal angle covered.
Who would have been a better pick for VP? Certainly not Evan Bayh whose mediocre, I mean moderate, policies come into question. Kaine is wet behind the ears; and Chet Edwards, well his name is Chet and he's from Texas - there's two strikes right there (plus, people would confuse him with John Edwards if there was an Obama-Edwards ticket).
Hillary, you say? Too much baggage between her and her husband and while it probably would deliver Ohio and Florida during the election, it would have been a short sighted move. There would be THREE presidents, three huge egos in the White House. I'm not sure that anything of significance would get accomplished and there's plenty of work to get done in the next year or so...
I think Obama should have picked someone from Ohio, Florida, Missouri or another swing state that would help him deliver that state. Who that person is, I'm not certain. Bill Richardson also would have been a solid choice, but Obama's advisers probably felt America is not ready for that diverse ticket.
On the bright side, Biden will not be shy about attacking McCain and whomever his running mate will be (probably Ron Reagan impersonator Mitt Romney)
I meant to say Biden likes to put his foot in HIS mouth.
Getting pwned is what McCain got in BOTH speeches during the Obama-Biden rally. Some choice quotes:
Obama: "Joe Biden is what so many others pretend to be - a statesman with sound judgment who doesn't have to hide behind bluster to keep America strong."
Obama: "And instead of secret task energy task forces stacked with Big Oil and a Vice President that twists the facts and shuts the American people out, I know that Joe Biden will give us some real straight talk."
Obama: "That's what it's going to take to win the fight for good jobs that let people live their dreams, a tax code that rewards work instead of wealth, and health care that is affordable and accessible for every American family. That's what it's going to take to forge a new energy policy that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil and $4 gasoline at the pump, while creating new jobs and new industry. That's what it's going to take to put an end to a failed foreign policy that's based on bluster and bad judgment, so that we renew America's security and standing in the world."
Biden: "these times require more than a good soldier, they require a wise leader."
Biden: McCain's quotes about his agreement with GWB.
There were some really good thrusts during this rally. Most of the Biden remarks will be picked up by MSM but people won't talk about the subtle (really, not-so-subtle) jabs by Obama.
McCain's ad department is like from the early 1990's or something. When I watch an Obama Ad it looks like I'm watching a movie trailer.
@ sommelier
Nope, definitely do not care for politics. but i never like seeing people trying to cover their asses. it happens on both ends obviously.
So does this mean Hillary still has a chance to be McCain's VP?
The VP choice does not really mean that much anyway. It is just something for the news junkies/politicos to hype.
I'd place my bets on Kay Bailey Hutchinson in a gambit to pick up the disaffected HRC supporters and to demonstrate a future path for the GOP with a more youthful candidate who can also claim to have a lot of "experience." KBH seals the deal for a McCain Presidency, unfortunately for our country.
"When introducing his running mate, Obama said, "So let me introduce to you the next president - the next vice president of the US of America, Joe Biden."... And then when it was Biden's turn to speak, the Delaware senator called the presumptive Democratic nominee "Barack America" instead of Barack Obama."
Now what were all those comments about Pres. Bush mangling English?
Youtube: "President Biden and Barack America?"
So wait, [26], you're telling me her made a verbal mistake and immediately corrected it? Damn, yeah, he sure is dense...
jackdonaghy Biden is a loudmouth who loves hearing himself talk (and putting his foot in my mouth).
So... Have you a foot kink there that you'd like to come clean with?