NBC's excellent Chuck Todd writes a couple of sentences that will bring smiles to the Obama camp today:
On the GOP side, the sound you heard was disappointed silence. Of
everyone on the short list, the candidate many Republicans least wanted
to see Obama pick was Biden.
Marc Ambinder has an insightful ramble on why this is an impressive choice:
That Obama (apparently) picked him demonstrates a recognition that the Democratic ticket ought to be more than just about Obama's personality... or a statement of bipartisan pragmatism... it's easy to float on gossamers when the world is safe, but when it's burning down, a guy like Biden is just the ticket. I take it that Obama likes the fact that Biden gets things done. Sure, he talks a lot. But he gets things done.
Halperin says it's a smart pick because Biden is a believable president, and will kill at the convention and in the debates.
So, the conventional wisdom is that this was the right decision. Of course, a few weeks down the line, after Biden has said something ridiculous, or the McCain campaign has dredged up all manner of embarrassment from his past, then it might not seem so smart. But, nobody's perfect, and Biden's pluses outweigh his flaws by some margin.
For every "embarrassment" the GOP can dredge up from Biden's past, the DNC can dig up something just as or more cringe-making from McSame's. I say, bring it on!
Posted by: Lyle | August 23, 2008 at 06:13 PM