From The Road
August 23, 2008 5:44 PM

Opponents Highlight Obama, Biden "Gaffes"

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(SPRINGFIELD, IL.)- Barack Obama and Joe Biden's first appearance together as running mates did not go off without a hitch as both made noticeable gaffes, which turned into fodder for Republican jabs. It was an obscenely hot day and they could have been nervous, but there wasn't much room for error at the debut of the Obama-Biden ticket.

For most of his speech, Obama played it safe – sticking to his prepared remarks so much so that he often sounded a bit scripted.

"Today, I have come back to Springfield to tell you that I've found that leader, a man with a distinguished record and a fundamental decency," he said rigidly.

But at the end of his speech, Obama made the very blunder that his opponents were seeking.

"So let me introduce you to the next President," he said, quickly catching and correcting the mistake, "Vice President of the United States of America..."

Just moments later McCain spokesman Ben Porritt, responded: "Barack Obama sounded as though he turned over the top spot on the ticket today to his new mentor....the reality is that nothing has changed since Joe Biden first made his assessment that Barack Obama is not ready to lead."

Biden, who made up for some of Obama's stiffness, made his own quirky comments and gaffes.

"My wife Jill, who you'll meet soon, is drop dead gorgeous," Biden said and then joked, "My wife Jill, who you'll meet soon, she also has her doctorate degree, which is a problem."

The crowd appeared a bit confused, some laughing but most just watched with some confusion.

Biden's ultimate gaffe came near the end of his speech, when he called Obama, "Barack Amer.." It wasn't clear whether he intentionally wanted to call his running mate, Barack America, or if he forgot his last name. Had he called him "Barack America", Biden could have had a new campaign slogan on his hands. The crowd seemed to pick up on the mistake, quickly chanting "Obama, Obama."

The RNC, who already a running list of Obama's gaffes, has now cheekily started a Biden "gaffe" clock on its website, counting the time before Biden's next "gaffe."

Add a Comment
by johnct4 August 24, 2008 5:21 PM EDT
Is is not slightly a case of "the pot calling the kettle black" for the RNC to be highlighting the gaffes of Biden?

I mean, come on....this is just TOO obvious.
Reply to this comment
by bswalker121 August 24, 2008 12:11 PM EDT
obama must have very little regard for Americas future by selecting this clown for V.P.

we''ll take it and run with it though.

thank you babble-rack for this gift.

you should have selected Hill-arious Clinton.

she''ll be running in ''12 so watch out dems she may just change parties and run for president on the ANTI-OBAMA TICKET.

it would be funny to see her V.P. pick.

looks like wolfson would be happy with that call.
Reply to this comment
by misha128-2009 August 24, 2008 1:14 AM EDT
R they serious, everyday McCain makes a gaffe

Posted by tstars4

It appears to be a good day for McCain when he limits it to a single gaffe. Does anyone have a count or list of the items McCain''s staff is supposed to get back to us on that they still hasn''t answered?
Reply to this comment
by misha128-2009 August 24, 2008 1:10 AM EDT
ForeverTr - I believe Obama was on yhe only schedule that counts -- his. Meanwhile Condi and Bush were almost three weeks late negotiating the SOFA. Bush and McCain are yet to achieve the majority benchmarks Bush signed into law as part of the Surge funding. With he completion of the surge that pretty clearly makes the Surge the latest Bush Diplomatic failure. Shouldn''t we watch the important announced deadlines instead of those created by pundits or ourselves for others.
Reply to this comment
by jefflz-2009 August 23, 2008 11:08 PM EDT
Its a joke if thre McCain/Rove team wants to go after Biden for a few errors. McCain has so far shown himself to be much too addled to speak with clarity on any subject including his favorite topic "The Surge" which he seems to have invented. The CBS cover-up of McCain''s lapses concerning the Surge during the Couric interview is another glaring example of McCain''s incomptence. Furthermore, since he has brought in Karl Rove''s minions, the champions of the Big Lie and Smear are now managing McCain to keep him on track and on message. But they cannot. the "Houses" screw-up makes that clear. They have also eliminated his exchanges with reporters on his bus and cut way back on Town Hall meetings since he can''t answer the questions. Biden at least has native smarts. After nearly 8 years of reckless and mindless Bushism, the prospect of having another intellectual lightweight like McCain in the White House is chilling to say the least.
Reply to this comment
by forevertru-2009 August 23, 2008 10:53 PM EDT
I thought their first gaffe was on Friday when they couldn''t get it together enough to make the announcement on their own schedule. At first I thought Obama was just playing the media, then I thought he was being right down rude. Now I can see that it was really incompitence. More of which we will see if these two clowns get in the White House.
Reply to this comment
by mrtutto August 23, 2008 9:54 PM EDT
What Obama meant to say or at least what he was thinking was " I want you to meet the next President and Vice President of the United States. It''s McCain who has foot in mouth disease.
Reply to this comment
by tstars4 August 23, 2008 9:02 PM EDT
R they serious, everyday McCain makes a gaffe
Reply to this comment
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