Obama-Biden Democratic Ticket Makes its Debut

Photograph of Biden speaking while Obama listen at the rally in Springfield, IL by M. Spencer Green/AP

Yesterday, the 2008 Democratic ticket appeared together for the first time in Springfield, Illinois. When Barack Obama introduced Joe Biden, he emphasized the Senator from Delware's roots, “He is still that scrappy kid from Scranton who beat the odds — the dedicated family man and committed Catholic who knows every conductor on that Amtrak train to Wilmington.” And when Biden made it to the stage, Bruce Springsteen's The Rising played.

While the Obama campaign portrayed the choice of Biden as running mate as a "very personal decision" and that Obama "approached it in a very serious, sober and reasoned way," but the Washington Post suggests Biden "fits the reality, if not the starry-eyed message" of the Obama campaign. The Politico lists five things the "Biden pick says about Obama" and the AP notes ways "Biden's career provides grist for McCain's mill."

Though John McCain called Biden to congratulate him, his campaign came out with another new ad attacking Obama--this time using Hillary Clinton's words on the campaign trail--perhaps to appeal to the upset Clinton supporters.

However, yesterday Senator Clinton did issue a statement about the selection of Biden, "In naming my colleague and friend Senator Joe Biden to be the vice presidential nominee, Senator Obama has continued in the best traditions for the vice presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president who will help Senator Obama both win the presidency and govern this great country." As it happens, NY Times columnist Frank Rich's prescription for Obama is "the strategy that vanquished Hillary Clinton must be rebooted to take out John McCain."

And add this to the McCain VP rumor mill: There's talk of...Colin Powell.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 24, 2008 1:10 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Down in Seaford Delaware, Joe Biden's a big hero: he saved their pantyhose plant.

dreamking

oh, and Hillary can't be senate majority leader. That sort of thing is decided partially be seniority and mostly by having many of your party's senators really trust you. Unfortunately, neither of which apply to Hillary Clinton.

dreamking

Powell's implied on several occasions over the past year that he's a fan of Obama and his implied direction on things. It's unlikely he'd sabotage that by signing on with McCain now.

Actually, it would have been interesting if Obama had signed on Powell. Talk about foreign policy chops.

Any 'taint' still carried by Powell would be washed away by the verbal fusillades of an election campaign. Think of all the dirt he could have dished on Bush that people on both sides would accept as God's Own Truth. All Obama would then have to do is keep pounding the 'McCain = Bush' mantra.

JMH

As for Hillary's supporters: I'll just say that I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton ends up as Senate Majority Leader.
Fuck that. Hillary Clinton shouldn't even be the leader of the Senate delegation from New York.

VanessaNYC

Mr Mel,

I agree with your assessment of Colin Powell.

-----------------------------------------------

East River,

Thank you very much.

-----------------------------------------------

Shinobi Shaw,

I didn't call Pull My Finger a Republican because of the comment that he made today. I've read many of his comments. He identifies himself as a Republican.

dooWOP

Yes, Biden does seem to look better with age. His is the prime example of the distinguished looking older gentleman (sorry, ladies). Perhaps that old footage of him during the Nixon era was a bit unflattering - he looked a lot like Al Bundy...

cucarachita

Colin Powell as VP for McCain?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but years and years ago didn't Powell decline to declare an intention to run for president based on his fear that he would be killed by racists?

Sure he was earnest about his problems with the war, but he didn't do enough, did he? All he did was back out of the mess he'd got himself into and try to play the saint. As if he didn't know the kind of people he was working with all along.

cucarachita

Biden looks like an animal!

As for Hillary -- if she's been "different", that is, if she'd conducted herself in a way becoming of a democrat for change, she might have been on the ticket herself, instead of the Older White Guy.

He does look oddly virile for an older guy.

Relax and enjoy Obama's run, because he's not gonna win. America would have to think there's something worse than warmongering on false premises, then destroying our economy and abusing our civil rights to not vote Bush's successor in.

takethecanoli

For all of Biden's populist rhetoric, he was up front batting for the banks that populate his state when personal bankruptcy protection laws were softened.

They're all corrupt turds, even the chosen one.

rdc

Powell is a good soldier and excels at doing exactly what he's told as we saw during his fraudulent testimony to the U.N.. I think that his inability to act for himself would prevent him from accepting an offer of VP slot on the McCain ticket.

EastRiver

What says "change" more than an blabbering old white guy in a suit who's been entrenched in the senate and Washington power structure for 35 years?

Having Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore speak at the convention?

ides_of_march

What says "change" more than an blabbering old white guy in a suit who's been entrenched in the senate and Washington power structure for 35 years?

Shinobi Shaw

So because one dislikes this specific candidate (Biden) then one is Republican? Nice logic there, Vanny.

EastRiver

You're a real class act Vanessa.

Splicer

I like the pick. Biden's got the right kind of attitude to go up against the nastiness of the McCain/Rove crowd. He's a fighter and that's not a bad thing at all.

As for Hillary's supporters: I'll just say that I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton ends up as Senate Majority Leader.

Mr Mel

Vanessa, I hate to disillusion you, but General Powell is damaged goods, My gut feeling is he knew the truth about the WMDs . I feel sorry for him because he appeared to be a good guy, but in the debt and employ of total villains. He deserved a better fate.

Public Relations

What is very interesting, is that they both are appearing without Jackets AND with rolled up sleaves.

Although this is late August - for years, candidates were very conservative about being traditionally dressed during official events.

This is probably a tactic to seem more on the level of the people - a roll up your sleeves executive.

Of course, they are still wearing the mandatory starched white shirts, fully buttoned and simple silk ties.

But the effect they are presenting to the world is interesting. Would be interesting to get an interview with their image consultants

VanessaNYC

Pull My Finger,

And you're a Republican.

Pull My Finger

Biden is a windbag asshole.

VanessaNYC

If McCain chooses Colin Powell... well, that's a challenge for the Obama campaign. Despite the f-up that is the Iraq war, Colin Powell is well liked on the both sides of the aisle.

That said, I'm loving Joe Biden. The Rethuglicans are finally getting a taste of their own medicine and it's so sweet.

Obama/Biden '08