First, I’d like to point out that Biden was at the top of my VP short list back in June. Yes, that’s because the list was in alphabetical order, but shouldn’t I get at least half credit for making the right pick?
On a more serious note, I’m feeling mixed emotions about the pick this morning. I like Biden a lot. Those of you who know me well may remember that he was very high on my list of presidential choices last year before he dropped out of the race. He’s a legislative leader, a great speaker, and a brilliant and pragmatic thinker. He also has an extremely compelling life story. I should be very happy this morning.
But I’m not. Three different thoughts leave me a little disappointed. First, I don’t think that Obama picked him for the right reasons. Kerry, Gore and Bill Clinton had all advised Obama to pick someone he trusts completely. I don’t think that’s Joe Biden even though Obama and Biden are, by all accounts, friendly and cordial in their relationship.
Second, the pick doesn’t obviously reinforce the Obama brand. Biden is not change. Biden is not hope. Biden is many good things but neither of those two. We may see some re-branding of Team Obama today at the unveiling, but I think it’s a little late in the game to be doing that.
Third, I don’t think Biden gives the greatest chance of success in November. I probably wouldn’t even have put him in the top 3 on that score. My biggest concern is that Hillary’s die-hards (and remember, Hillary was my first choice) will make a big fuss. I think the Obama campaign underestimates the number of votes that Obama will now not get because of this choice.
A few days ago, I was worried that Obama sounded too much like Michael Dukakis. Now I just hope that Joe Biden doesn’t turn out to be Lloyd Bentsen.
Cross-posted from Facebook.
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