Obama picks Biden, McCain responds
Joe Biden, I think, wll be a mixed blessing for Obama. On paper, he brings things Obama desperately needs, like experience, particularly foreign policy experience. In reality, Biden’s strengths often end up as weaknesses. Anyone who has spent 30+ years in the Senate loves the sound of their own voice. They are used to pontificating. For reference, see John Kerry’s 2004 campaign. Biden likes to talk tough, and he could be a good surrogate on the attack against the Republicans. Given Biden’s longstanding admiration for McCain, I think we will see the Obama-Biden ticket working overtime to tie McCain’s policies to those of the unpopular president. He’ll attack McCain by proxy. The problem is, can Biden contain himself once he gets going, can he stay on script? History says no, he will go off the reservation and say some pretty outrageous things along the way.
What is the over/under on the number of statements Biden will have to apologize for or retract? I’ll set the line at three, and take the over.
As for McCain, he has squarely addressed one concern I had about him as the nominee. Would he would be tough enough on his opponent? Would he play to win? In recent weeks, he has been hitting Obama hard, and the polls show that it is working. Within minutes of Biden’s selection, McCain’s campaign was ready. Here is the statement from the McCain campaign on Biden’s selection as VP,
There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama’s lack of experience than Joe Biden. Biden has denounced Barack Obama’s poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing — that Barack Obama is not ready to be president.
Along with the statement comes this new web ad, a clever use of Biden’s own words against Barack Obama,
August 23, 2008 6:56 am 
POLITICAL HURDLES
NEWSWIRE–Barack Obama has selected U.S. Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware as his intended vice-presidential ticket-mate.
Using track as a guide,
Judge the running mate’s stride
As he sprints between north and deep south:
Can he dash down a phrase,
Trot it out where it pays,
Yet avoid running off at the mouth?
http://www.newsandverse.com
Light verse, ripped from the headlines
Biden — the perfect foil for Palin!
An empty suit picks a stuffed shirt…perfect!!!