Biden: Obama Will Fumble First Crisis

In remarks that were either a stunning blunder or a shocking admission, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden said today that a potential Obama administration would face an "international crisis to test the mettle of [Sen. Barack Obama]," within the first six months of taking office. But as if that wasn't bad enough, Biden continued his remarks, asking in advance for the assembled attendees at a Seattle fund raiser to rally to Obama's side when he inevitably doesn't handle the crisis very well at its outset.

"I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where [the crisis] might originate. And [Obama is] gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."

There are gonna be a lot of you who want to go, 'Whoa, wait a minute, yo, whoa, whoa, I don't know about that decision.' Because if you think the decision is sound when they're made, which I believe you will when they're made, they're not likely to be as popular as they are sound. Because if they're popular, they're probably not sound."

Was Biden expressing doubt in Sen. Obama's ability to handle a crisis, or doubt in his supporters' fidelity when things get difficult? Either way, the remark qualifies as potentially the biggest gaffe of the election thus far. The McCain campaign has been hammering home the notion that Obama's comparatively thin resume leaves him unprepared for the responsibilities of the office of president. Biden's comments, reported accurately, can only serve to reinforce that message.

With two weeks to go in the election, pressure is building on all four of the candidates to stay on message and not make any mistakes that could change the dynamic of the race. For Sen. Biden, that challenge is an especially difficult one. Biden entered the race with a reputation as an undisciplined candidate. In many ways, it would be a story in itself if he somehow manages to make it to Election Day without committing another huge error.