Joe Biden? Seriously?

I saw the reports earlier this morning, and I thought it was disinformation. There's no way that the Republicans could be lucky enough to have Obama choose Biden... right? Wrong, Obama has chosen Biden. There are four events that have the potential of changing the structure of the campaign in the next few weeks, two VP selection events and two convention events. Two of these events are under Obama's control and he just blew one of them.

My fellow PMers are on top of things, but let me especially highlight the quick response McCain ad thrown up by Greg, which is priceless. Mark is correct in saying that this is the best possible choice... for Republicans.

In summary:
-Biden doesn't help the map, he doesn't bring a battleground state or anywhere close to one. He has no special connection in the Midwest or among rural working class white folk, which is Obama's weakest point.


-Foreign Policy? Biden's claim on foreign policy is being on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which means he and other committee members were advised when the President and his cabinet made decisions. But he got the Iraq war 180 degrees opposite from Obama so that's a plus. Unless you're Obama of course.


-As Mark said, whatever he brings on the experience side undercuts Obama's narrative that experience isn't important, judgement is.


-Adlai Stevenson vs. Eisenhower. Smart guy versus simple guy and Obama doubles down and goes for the double Adlai with Joe Biden. The only possibility I can think of is that Obama is hoping that Biden's tendency to run his mouth will make Obama look even better by comparison.



-If you're not going to pick Hillary, I would've thought they would pick someone that helps in a battleground state, or helps at all. That would have at least helped mollify the Hillary die-hards. But they passed over Hillary and a unity ticket for this? Wow.


All of these are the reasons I would have told you that Biden will never be the pick. Only he was anyway, what a blown opportunity. All that being said, I do think that Joe Biden as a person is a nice enough smart enough guy. He was also the guy who cleared Clarence Thomas through the judiciary committee for George Bush, so he's not completely partisan. I just think he's a horrible VP pick and that's not a reflection on him as a person or as a senator.



In the Ohio blogosphere, on the left reactions among the Ohio Democrat supporting blogs are positive, which shows they haven't thought this through or are completely in the tank. And it really doesn't matter which. On the right side, my fellow blogger at Bizzyblog has detected a little Joe Biden wikipedia cleanup, and Ben Keeler at The Point has the quote of the day:


Joe Biden. Barring the most elaborate smoke screen in the history of politics. Move Delaware from "Safe Democrat" to "Safe Democrat" on your maps.


On the 3am text message, we have open speculation whether this was a not-so-subtle slap at Hillary for the 3am advertising that was so deadly effective in the primaries. If so, this is not going to help in the PUMA wing. I mean it's hard enough that she was passed over for Joe Biden. I mean, come on. Although this does give her an open shot at 2012 given that Obama is apparently trying his best to throw this one. And then the second best quote of the day is the headline here: Wake me up at 3am for Joe Biden!?!? Heh.