Applesauce » Random thoughts on Joe Biden

Random thoughts on Joe Biden

August 23rd, 2008 at 10:14am Pat Cunningham

Biden’s roots in Pennsylvania likely will seal the deal for the Democratic ticket in the Keystone State, where Obama already leads by seven points. His working-class roots also could be helpful in Michigan and Ohio.

Biden brings to his candidacy bonafides as a foreign-policy expert, a crime-fighter and an economics reformer. No one-trick pony here.

Biden’s Catholicism could be beneficial in a way that some political observers might not expect. If the church hierarchy conspicuously disses Biden for being pro-choice on abortion, it could backfire. Most rank-and-file Catholics also are pro-choice, and they might be resentful if their bishops dare to tell them how to vote. Right-wing Catholics who are loath to buck the hierarchy on anything weren’t going to vote Democratic anyway.

If John McCain names Mitt Romney his running mate, Biden will mop the floor with the Mittster in the vice-presidential debate.

The selection of Biden over Hillary Clinton probably angers Hillary’s die-hard supporters in the short term, but most of them will get over it when they consider the benighted types a President McCain would appoint to the Supreme Court.

Biden’s ability to translate policy issues into the street-talk of the campaign trail balances nicely with Obama’s more nuanced rhetorical style.

If Obama were to serve two terms as president, Biden likely would be considered too old to succeed him. He’d be 74 upon his inauguration in January 2017. Hillary Clinton, by comparison, would be only 68.

Incidentally, Biden’s been in the Senate longer than most Americans have been alive.

How symbolic is it that the text-message call concerning Obama’ selection of Biden came at — get ready — 3 a.m. EDT?

One last thought for now: This kind of sharp rhetorical style suggests that Biden will be a pretty capable campaigner:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/tyxi0T37JmY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

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29 Comments Add your own

1. Ted | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am

Biden — the perfect foil for Palin!
2. Menlo Bob | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 am

I suspect Hillary supporters wouldn’t have gone for another woman–they’re Hillary specific and will accept Biden. He’s also got that ‘wife and child death’ story to tug at heartstrings.

Biden will have to do a bit of a dance to undo his statement saying Obama isn’t ready to be president while endorsing McCain.

I’m not sure Biden’s rhetorical skills are dramatically different from Romney’s. Adding the total Obama/Biden and McCain/Romney primary votes might be a better gauge.

Biden’s war vote presents an interesting challenge to the candidate claiming special powers in that area.
3. Pat Cunningham | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 am

Ted: You refer, of course, to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. I don’t think she’s a likely choice for McCain’s veep, but I could be wrong. I just don’t think she would bring much to the ticket in terms of expertise. Charm, yes, but not much else.
4. Menlo Bob | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 am

I’ll aay this for Biden, his charm is one of his better qualities, as this post indicates.
5. Pat Cunningham | August 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 am

Bob: I read the piece to which you linked. I liked it. That stuff works for me. Joe seems likely to get under McCain’s skin and bring out his legendary temper (at which point, no doubt, McCain will play his POW card).
6. Menlo Bob | August 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am

You’re saying that Biden’s habit of rude behavior and serial lies are going to smoke out McCain? Pretty risky strategy.
7. Pat Cunningham | August 23rd, 2008 at 11:22 am

I’m saying that Biden’s aggressive approach is going to drive the Republicans crazy. As a liar, he’s a piker compared with McCain.
8. Mike Carroll | August 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm

Out of curiosity Patrick, how were all of those huge SUV’s powered that were driving Biden to the airport?
Solar? Wind? Given that its Biden one might assume Natural Gas.
9. solo sam | August 23rd, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Yes, he has been a senator for a long time, so he must be part of the problem like Obama has said of McCain. And theres that whole age thing that Obama supporters seem to have a problem with. The guy is 66 with a history of health problems. To top it off, Joe himself also thinks Obama is too inexperianced for the White House. Too funny. I’ll leave you with one of my all time Joe Binden quotes, something that would get most of us fired from work:
“In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans moving
from India. You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have
a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.”

Class act right there. Too bad Ron Paul or even Bob Barr don’t have a chance. But at least it looks like Obamas chances are quickly fading.
10. Pat Cunningham | August 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm

Sam: We Obama supporters don’t have a problem with the age thing unless the geezer in question seems forgetful. Y’know, like a guy who can’t remember stuff he said the day before, or can’t remember how many homes he and his wife own. I say this as a geezer myself, but one who still has some semblance of a memory.
11. Pat Cunningham | August 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm

OK, folks, let’s hear it for the comedy stylings of Mike Carroll. That natural gas joke was a killer, wasn’t it? Mike will be with us all year. Meanwhile, try the veal.
12. Mike Carroll | August 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm

Why thank you Patrick. I knew my subtlety would not be wasted on you.
13. Fred Flintstone | August 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm

Nothing New, Just more McCainiac
issue shifting

How bout that Biden
14. solo sam | August 23rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm

At least in this day and age it’ll be easier to figure out who he’s plagiarizing.
15. Orlando Clay | August 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 pm

Response to #8: Joe Biden….natural gas….ha, ha, ha. Hopefully you’ll be able to maintain your rather juvenile sense of humor come the morning of November 5, just hours after your candidate has been humiliated in an electoral landslide.

And don’t count on Florida to help you GOPers steal this election this time, as the Democrats are outpacing the GOP by a 7-to-1 margin in registering new voters across the state.

Eight long years of failure, arrogance, corruption and incompetence are coming to a rapid close.
16. Mike Carroll | August 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm

My sense of humor will be just fine on November 5th Orlando but thanks for caring. Your predicted landslide, with a current statistical deadheat in the polls, is a bit slow in the development stage.
How many of those newly registered voters are actually eligible by the way? ACORN in charge?
17. Menlo Bob | August 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm

It’s easy to see from this chart how Obama selected his running mate.
18. Henry | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm

Mike - You may want to consider what has happened in the three special elections this year. Denny Hastert’s seat when to the Dems, as well as a seat in Louisiana that has been republican since 1974, and a district in Mississippi where the GOP spent a million dollars for TV ads and Dick Cheney campaigned. I think the guy who doesn’t know how may houses he has, the difference between Sunni and Shia, or that Czechoslovakia hasn’t been around since 1989, is going to be singing the blues come November. The country is ready for a change. Bush and the GOP are toxic, and it’s going to be ugly (and deservedly so) for the Republicans.
19. solo sam | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm

“Eight long years of failure, arrogance, corruption and incompetence are coming to a rapid close.”

You talking about Bush or Clinton?
20. solo sam | August 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm

Hey Pat, when you posted this on July 31 you seemed to have a problem with age:

OK! OK! Somebody’s going to point out that Britney Spears is only 26 years old, nine years too young to serve as vice president. But John McCain is very old, so it all evens out.
21. Mike Carroll | August 24th, 2008 at 9:09 am

Henry-no question that the wind is at the backs of Democrats for this election but one wonders why Obama is running behind the party at this point. National polls show a statistical deadheat.
I think Biden was a good choice bringing experience and accomplishment to the ticket in contrast to Obama who lacks both. Good ticket, wrong order.
22. Pat Cunningham | August 24th, 2008 at 9:53 am

Mike: The race is not as close as you think. According to Pollster.com, McCain is running strongly in states with a total of 112 electoral votes, and there are states with another 64 electoral votes leaning his way (that is, he has poll leads of at least six percentage points in each of these leaning states). By comparison, Obama is running strongly in states with a total of 214 electoral votes, and there are states with another 46 electoral votes leaning his way. The electoral votes in the so-called toss-up states total 102. So, McCain has 176 electoral votes in his strong and leaning states, while the corresponding number for Obama is 260 electoral votes (which is only 10 shy of the 270 he needs to win). If the strong states and the leaners remain the same, McCain will have to get 94 of the 102 toss-up votes to win. That’s a tall order. But, hey, anything can happen in presidential politics.
23. Mike Carroll | August 24th, 2008 at 11:36 am

But Pat, I thought it was the mantra of the left for the last 7+years that you didn’t really win the Presidency if you only won in the electoral college while losing the popular vote. Is the story changing. I would be shocked!
24. Pat Cunningham | August 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am

Mike: My mantra is what the Constitution says, although I think the Constitution should be changed in regard to the Electoral College, and I’ve used the 2000 election results to dramatize that point. I’ve also used those election results to disabuse ignoramuses (or is it “ignorami”?) of the notion that the American people chose Bush over Gore. I’ve often wondered what kind of howl we would have heard from the right had the results in 2000 began exactly the opposite. Imagine what Limbaugh and Faux News would have said. Anyway, quit trying to change the subject. The truth is that Obama is ahead of McCain in electoral votes by no tiny margin. In short, it ain’t a dead heat at this point.
25. Mike Carroll | August 24th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

I think the howl from the right would have been the same as the howl from the left has been lo these 7 years.
Eliminate the Electoral College and small sates will be ignored and large states like Illinois will determine who becomes President directly counter to the intent of the Framers. I’ll take what we have, thank you.
I am not trying to change the subject. I don’t doubt your reading of the electoral votes. My point all along has been that Obama should be cruising at this point in the process and he isn’t. He is running well behind the brand and that is why I think you, and your fellow liberals, are more worried than you care to let on.
26. Pat Cunningham | August 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Mike: It might help you to look back to the 1980 campaign. Incumbent Jimmy Carter was not very popular but he was running slightly ahead of Ronald Reagan until late October. The problem for Reagan was that he was new and relatively untested. Many Americans weren’t sure they wanted to trust the presidency to this former actor with the glib slogans and the weird theories, like the one that trees caused pollution. One week before the election, Reagan did well in a debate, and that was the end of Carter. Most Americans decided they wanted a change. (Even at that, however, Reagan got barely half the popular vote. John Anderson picked up about 7 percent, as I recall.) This year, there’s still some lingering uncertainty about Obama, another symbol of great change. That’s why he’s running a little behind his party’s brand, as you say. But he’ll win unless McCain can convince voters he’s not just four more years of Bush. I don’t think McCain can do it. There are several other very important factors in Obama’s favor that are too much to explain here in a comment. I’m preparing a post on them. Stay tuned.
27. Mike Carroll | August 24th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

Shall do but I’ll be out of touch for awhile on family business but I’ll be back.
28. Craig Knauss | August 24th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

If the credentials of Vice President are THAT important, how the hell did Bush get elected TWICE with Dick Cheney? The same Republicans that rallied around Cheney would have been demanding tar and feathering had Cheney been a Democrat, instead. The right wing isn’t fooling anyone.
29. Henry | August 25th, 2008 at 4:59 am

Pat - the two biggest factors in this race are the faltering economy and the war. Lots of people are hurting, and many others fearful for what may happen next to them. Most Americans are against the war (as you well know) and want us to get out. Those are probably the two most powerful issues in presidential politics (economy and war) and bodes well for the Dems, and for the change in course this country needs.