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Is Obama-Biden The Ticket?

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May 21, 2008 4:12 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and John Santucci Report: Sen. Joe Biden's, D-Del., audition to be Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., running mate continued Tuesday when he delivered a scathing critique of the "holes" in Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., foreign policy.

"Who opened the door to al Qaeda in Iraq?" asked Biden. "President Bush."

"And who would keep the door open?" he continued. "John McCain."

Biden's speech this week to the liberal Center for American Progress Action Fund was his second speech in two months in which he has sought high-profile venues from which to paint McCain as representing a third Bush term. On April 15, Biden went to Georgetown University to argue that McCain is "joined at the hip" to Bush.

Although Biden pulled the plug on his presidential bid after being trounced in the Jan. 3rd Iowa caucuses, he is viewed by some senior Democratic Party strategists as holding the potential to help Obama on two of his perceived vulnerabilities: foreign policy heft and an affinity with white-working class voters.

Biden is seen as filling the foreign policy void not only because of his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but also due to his outspoken support for achieving political reconciliation in Iraq by decentralizing power among the country's warring factions.

Biden's ability to reach working-class whites is less obvious due to his reputation in the halls of Congress for long-windedness.

But those who have observed him on the stump have lauded his ability to connect with voters. The garrulous Biden, who was born in Scranton, Pa., does this by invoking his Irish American roots and "Grandfather Finnegan." He also showed an ability to show a more personal side of himself during his 2008 White House bid when he discussed the death of his wife and infant daughter in a car crash shortly after his election to the Senate in 1972.

While Biden is aggressively seeking opportunities to hammer McCain, he has not made an endorsement in the presidential race and said Tuesday that he plans to remain neutral even after the nominating season draws to a close.

"I will stay neutral until it is settled," said Biden. "I don't plan even on June 3rd to announce because I believe that this process has strengthened the Democratic Party."

He did, however, describe Obama as the "probable" nominee and said that Clinton will face a "hard accounting" to embrace Obama shortly after Montana and South Dakota hold their June 3rd primaries.

One potential drawback from picking Biden is his propensity for sticking his foot in his mouth.

He spent his first day as a 2008 presidential contender defending himself for a controversial description of Obama.

In his interview with The New York Observer, Biden characterized Obama as "the first mainstream African American [presidential candidate] who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Obama subsequently absolved Biden and praised his record on civil rights during a Democratic debate in Iowa. But the episode would surely be part of the first-day coverage if Obama were to select Biden as his running mate.

More recently, Biden gave ammunition to Republicans by seeming to repudiate Obama's support for talking with rogue leaders without preconditions. 

Appearing Sunday on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Biden said, "This is a fellow who, I think, shorthanded an answer that, in fact, was the wrong answer, in my view, saying, 'I would, within the first year' -- it implied he'd personally sit down with anybody who wanted to sit down with him."

Shortly after Biden made his comments, the Republican National Committee seized on them to argue that Democrats were running away from a position staked out by the party's likely nominee.
In his Tuesday speech, the Delaware Democrat attempted to paper over any differences between himself and Obama on the issue.

"Let's end this false argument about pre-conditions which has continued to bubble here," said Biden. "Senator Obama was right that the United States should be willing to engage Iran on it's nuclear program."

May 21, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (52)

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Mary - WOW.

McCain being one of the Keating 5, tied to John Keating.

Cheating on his first wife with his current one.

He can't erase these from his resume.

Or Hillary, working for a law firm in the 70's that defended Black Panthers.

Whitewater? Ring any bells?

What evidence is there that Obama would turn the US into a Socialist nation?

The people he would surround himself with in the Whitehouse. Edwards, Richardson, Clark, possibly Hillary, Biden, Nunn.

You are either ill-informed or grossly ignorant. Nobody's perfect, even the Presidential nominees. However, judging from your post Obama is more of a Patriot than you will ever be.

Posted by: Topher | May 21, 2008 5:59:34 PM

Hagel and Webb need to be in the cabinet somewhere also.

Posted by: Topher | May 21, 2008 6:01:55 PM

I think Biden's type of foot in the mouth thing...is like a famous actor/movie star having a flaw. It makes him a bit more real.

You know like Julia Roberts large mouth and smile...or Garbo's man voice...or Rhett Butler's ears... Cruise's crooked nose...

It shows he is not some slick pol. It is his knowledge of the facts around the world and the issues that face us seem to stand out more because he is not so slick...

maybe I am wrong...but I think his foot in the mouth mistakes are stupid...but I would rather have that than someone whose content is belied by there behavior. ya' know.

We need the smartest most internationally likable team we can get right now. Our standing in the world and our getting out of this situation depends on it.depends on it.

Posted by: dl | May 21, 2008 6:03:29 PM

POP QUIZ KIDS:

ROUND ONE:
Q:Who is HRC's Michigan State Campaign Chair?

A: Jennifer Granholm

ROUND TWO:
Q. Who is the Govenrnor of Michigan?

A. Jennifer Granholm

ROUND THREE:
Q. Who voted to move MI Primary, in violation of DNC Rules and aware of the sanctions to be imposed?

A. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm

BONUS ROUND:
Q. Which Michigan Super Delegate endorsed Hillary Clinton LAST FALL?

A. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Any one else see a pattern here???

It's so Karl Rove.

Posted by: MI VOTER | May 21, 2008 6:08:16 PM

In the Texas caucuses Obama supporters were basically bullies,,,except in the cases where they were filing false list then they were kind of low key...


NoObama

I really do think that regardless of the attempt to paint McCain as a third Bush term he has opposed Bush policies more than any other republican. I have recently started to review his positions and checked out his webpage to make a decision if I can support him in Nov.

Posted by: Jackie | May 21, 2008 6:16:22 PM

What would Hillary Do?

Hillary supporters, ask yourself, if Hillary had to vote between Obama, McCain, Nader and Barr, WWHD?

(hint: she wouldn't vote for McCain, Nader or Barr because electing a democrat this election is too important.)

Posted by: Topher | May 21, 2008 6:22:01 PM

Biden's an ideal running mate for Obama. But then so might be John Edwards and Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi and Kathleen Sibelius and Chris Dodd and Jim Webb and ... already Edwards and Webb said no but they probably would not say that to the candidate.

Posted by: Gaias Child | May 21, 2008 6:45:14 PM

joe biden...and he¨s going to be the one to steal the youth momentum from obama? way to pull the easiest article out of your a$$

Posted by: djv | May 21, 2008 6:46:45 PM

Obama/Ford Jr 08 enough said...get 100%of AA vote. McCain/Jindal 08 in landslide...

Posted by: Regis | May 21, 2008 6:49:24 PM

John Edwards will be the vice if and when Obama wins. There is no doubt. Don't let Edwards fool you with his words. He is a man that likes a haircut.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:11:03 PM

If Hillary wins Bill Richardson would have been the vice if he had not stuck his head in his arse. Now he doing the dance without a hat.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:17:05 PM

Obama/Sebelius '08! Get a good, decent woman on the ticket and shut up this Hillary crap. There could be a woman for president in 8 more years after Obama gets this country on the right course.

Obama '08!

Posted by: Hope | May 21, 2008 7:30:55 PM

What a great idea !!! --The more I hear of Senator Biden--the more I think he will complement and add to an Obama Whitehouse !!!Well done ---

Posted by: Anna | May 21, 2008 7:56:41 PM

I really did not want to comment, but I can't resist. To those who are criticizing Obama, and rejecting him because of what one of his supporters did or what Rev. Wright has said. I suggests that you mature a bit, while 18 is the legal age for voting, and you may be over it, your level of maturity is about that of an 8 year old. Seriously. I mean, if you want to hold him responsible for everything that anyone did that was ever in any way connected to him, then you better put the others under a similar microscope.

I think that those that do this are very biased and indeed unreasonable in judging others in this way. You might also take a look at the person in the mirror and first fairly and realistically think about how you might judge yourself based on what your friends, relatives of all dimensions, pastors, teachers, and whoever else that has ever crossed your path has said or done. And tell me there are different standards for you and me versus candidates for the Presidency. I hold we must meet the test we give them.

This election is about the future of the United States not about your personal preferences and who said what to whom in some skirmish reported third hand. I suggest you consider your responsibility to yourself and to your country. And while you are at it drop your prejudices and I believe if you do that, you will look up and see why Obama is the best choice.

You are perfectly entitled to vote for however you want. I think everyone has a responsibility to try their best to gain a balanced view of the challenges America faces and of the candidates. Attempts to change the minds of other voters is a waste of your time and theirs. You might better spend your time getting some perspective.

As far as a running mate, I think if it could work, Hillary would be a good choice. Whether or not it works will depend on Hillary - she cannot force her way on to the ticket. If that is not possible, I think if there is a woman candidate that would be best. In terms of foreign policy, I don't think Obama needs to be shored up. What it takes is common sense and the ability to bridge divides and to also take action when the divide cannot be closed and the consequences are clearly unacceptable. This is not rocket science. McCain is a reflection of Bush and the shoot first and ask questions later approach is finished. Someone with a military background would be good nontheless to help lead the exit from Iraq and the return to the war on terror.

Posted by: Paul Stewart | May 21, 2008 8:41:46 PM

Those of you who are clinging to the Wright issue, well it shows how weak and pathetic your arguements are against Mr. Obama. Neither did Mr. Obama say it nor does he believe it. I am completely sure you've heard your friends and or family for many years say horrible things about other races, so have you disowned them?...NO, but I'm sure your friends and family were the wonders that spoke no evil and of course you never heard any evil but yet you dare to say you see evil....Yeah wright...you all are total hypocrites. Take your Prozac and give us a break.

Posted by: MSB | May 21, 2008 8:51:34 PM

John Edwards for Attorney General, Joe Biden, Secretary of State maybe. Sen. Webb for VP.

Posted by: Carolyn Grace | May 21, 2008 8:53:59 PM

I think Clinton/Biden is the appropriate ticket. I think they could work well together. Obama is NOT the nominee yet, no matter how much the media tries spin it that way. He can't win enough states, is too much like McGovern and Kerry, and really doesn't do well in debates. Hillary, ignore the media, stay in the race, "It ain't over til the pant-suited lady says so!"

Posted by: jkr | May 21, 2008 9:57:38 PM

Do you realize an obama/biden ticket is as close to the name Osama Bin Laden as is humanly possible?

Obama Bi Den
Osama Bin Laden

Posted by: Matthew Mobilio | May 21, 2008 10:51:37 PM

jkr,

Obama can't win enough States??? He has won double the amount of States than Clinton. And McGovern and Kerry never turned out record crowds like Obama including 80,000 in Oregon a few days ago. We have seen nothing like Obama before because people that are educated and informing themselves can see that Obama is the real deal. Of course there are several haters out there that voted for Bush 2 times that want to try and continue his legacy with McCain, who on all the key issues is exactly the same.

Hilliary should have won this race but her team was far inferior to the team Obama put together and they had a plan and executed it to perfection. Clintion is 20 million in debt which is basically a example of her campaign unfortunately because I expected better from her.

Posted by: Derek | May 21, 2008 11:11:50 PM

Biden is a loser. So is Edwards. He should quit thinking about himself and take care of his wife.

Posted by: RL in Illinois | May 21, 2008 11:17:36 PM

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