There are many advantages to picking Senator Joe Biden for the ticket. Some are obvious. The media knows and loves Biden every bit as much as they know and love John McCain. Perhaps they love Biden more than McCain because Biden hasn’t changed a bit, while McCain has morphed into a Bush-Republican.
Less obviously, Joe Biden is respected and trusted by the Realist School of foreign policy. This will blunt efforts to undermine Obama’s foreign policy experience.
Sen. Specter: Pennsylvania’s Arlen Specter, a Republican who serves on the Judiciary Committee with Biden and often rides Amtrak with
him to Washington, also offered praise. “No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden,” Specter said. “He’s
been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He’s been a leader on crime control.” LINKSen. Chuck Hagel: U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel issued the following statement today following Senator Barack Obama’s selection of Senator Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic Vice Presidential nominee: “Joe Biden is the right partner for Barack Obama. His many years of distinguished service to America, his seasoned judgment and his vast experience in foreign policy and national security will match up well with the unique challenges of the 21st Century. An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team. Biden’s selection is good news for Obama and America,” Hagel said. LINK
Sen. Richard Lugar: Tbilisi, Georgia – U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement today en route to Tbilisi. “I congratulate Senator
Barack Obama on his selection of my friend, Senator Joe Biden, to be his vice-presidential running mate. I have enjoyed for many years the
opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy…” LINK
For progressives, it is perhaps precisely the fact that Biden is so popular with moderate Republicans that makes him suspect. I’ll confess that Biden’s foreign policy advice is what concerns me most about this pick. But, overall, I’d say that Biden is a very solid selection.
Biden’s presence on the ticket will bring all kinds of benefits. McCain can forget about competing in Pennsylvania. Biden is going to pull in votes from the white, urban and suburban Catholic vote. This is the demographic least likely to support Barack Obama. Now they have a champion to make the ticket go down easier. The Obama/Biden vote out of Philly and its Burbs is going to he ridiculous.
Biden is not a faction politician. He always remained aloof from the Clintons and he has never joined the DLC or any other organization. Yet, he is not disliked by the Clinton faction. Most of them feel like Biden will represent their interests. I can’t think of another politician that would simultaneously appease the Clintons without reempowering them.
As for actual campaigning, Biden is a fighter. He will not lose this election without drawing blood. But he’s also a little bit of a loose cannon. There is an element of risk with Biden. But his good relationship with the press means that he’s likely to get at least a couple of breaks along the way.
Ideologically, I disagree with Biden on a number of issues. But I can fully support this pick. And I actually really like Joe Biden. I always have.
