Running Mates Make First Joint Appearance

Obama-Biden Campaign In Springfield, Ill.; New V.P. Candidate Goes On Attack

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama introduced Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware on Saturday as a man "ready to step in and be president," and the newly minted running mate quickly turned his campaign debut into a slashing attack on Republicans seeking four more years in the White House.

Sen. John McCain would have to "figure out which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at" when considering his own economic future, said Biden, jabbing at the man he called his personal friend.

It was a reference to McCain's recent inartful admission - in a time of economic uncertainty - that he was not sure how many homes he owns.

"In his very first appearance as the vice presidential candidate, Biden demonstrated that he's more than willing to play the traditional role of attack dog," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "He recited a litany of what many Democrats feel is wrong with the current administration and linked his friend John McCain to them. In doing so, Biden proved himself an able fighter in his initial outing."

Before a crowd of more than 30,000 spilling out from the front of the Old State Capitol, Obama said Biden was "what many others pretend to be - a statesman with sound judgment who doesn't have to hide behind bluster to keep America strong."

Democrats coalesced quickly around the 47-year-old Obama's selection of the 65-year-old veteran of three decades in the Senate, a choice meant to provide foreign policy heft to the party's ticket for the fall campaign against McCain and the Republicans.

"The top advisers around Senator Obama over the last two weeks said to him, 'Look, we need to add heft to this ticket," reported CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer. "Every poll shows people like you but they do note you don't have experience. Biden adds heft to the ticket.' "

Obama made a symbolic choice for the site of the ticket's first joint appearance.

It was a brutally cold winter day more than a year ago when he stood outside the historic structure in the Illinois capital to launch his quest for the White House.

He returned this day in sunshine, the party's improbable nominee-in-waiting, a black man in his first Senate term who outdistanced a crowded field of far better-known and more experienced rivals for the nomination.

The Democratic National Convention opens on Monday to nominate him as president and Biden as vice president, the ticket that Democrats hope to ride into the White House after eight years of Republican rule.

McCain's convention opens on Labor Day. He has yet to select a running mate.

Responding to Obama's pick, the McCain campaign wasted no time trying to turn the selection to its own purposes.

It quickly produced a television ad featuring Biden's previous praise for McCain and comments critical of Obama. In an ABC interview last year, Biden had said he stood by an earlier statement that Obama wasn't yet ready to be president and "the presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.''

Polls indicate a highly competitive race at the end of a summer in which McCain eroded what had been Obama's slender advantage in the national surveys.

Obama brought Biden on stage with his glowing introduction to the strains of Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising."

The newly named running mate moved center stage in shirt-sleeves at a brisk trot that belied his 65 years, and embraced Obama.

"I'm glad to be here," said the man who has twice sought the presidency and emerged as Obama's pick only in the past few days.

Thousands of newly printed signs bearing the words Obama/Biden sprouted in the crowd that waited in anticipation in 90-degree temperatures.

Both men spoke for 16 minutes - unlikely a coincidence given Biden's reputation for verbosity.

Obama's remarks were carefully crafted to emphasize Biden's accomplishments in the Senate, his blue-collar roots and - above all - his experience on foreign policy.

"I can tell you Joe Biden gets it," he said. "He's that unique public servant who is at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids and the corridors of the Capitol, in the VFW hall in Concord, and at the center of an international crisis," he said.

Obama recounted the personal tragedy that struck Biden more than 30 years ago, within days of his election to the Senate, when his first wife and their child were killed in an automobile accident.

In a 1987 interview, Biden told CBS News he had to be convinced to take up his Senate seat, which he was sworn into at his son's hospital bedside, reports CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier.

"I didn't feel whole. I felt like a piece of me died," he said.

Obama said Biden raised his surviving children as a single parent, commuting between the Capitol and Delaware daily on the Amtrak train.

"For decades, he has brought change to Washington, but Washington hasn't changed him," Obama said, attempting to blunt an emerging Republican line of attack that notes Biden's 30 years in the polished corridors of the Capitol.

"He's an expert on foreign policy whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class."

And when it comes to credibility on national security, Biden has a very personal connection to the issue of Iraq, reports Dozier - his son starts a national guard tour there later this year.

In a jab at McCain that foretold Biden's far sharper criticism, Obama said his political partner "will give us some real straight talk."

Biden offered parts praise for Obama and criticism of McCain.

"You can't change America and make things better for our senior citizens when you signed on to Bush's scheme of privatizing Social Security," he said.

"You can't change America and end this war in Iraq when you declare - and again these are John's words - 'No one has supported President Bush in Iraq more than I have,' end of quote. ladies and gentlemen, you can't change America, you can't change America when you know your first four years as president will look exactly like the last eight years of George Bush's presidency."

Obama was heading for Wisconsin while Biden returned to Delaware to prepare for the fall campaign.

[trrrorislam3]

HAHAHA IS HUSSEIN BEING PROPHETIC,,,

WHEN HE INTRODUCES BIDEN AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT,,, lol

hahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBMoi3JaWiA

[realpatriot1]

ccfscda,

To answer your question. No I don''t think many Americans will think that. I do think the Republicans looking for something to criticise will see what they want to see but they are such a vanishing breed, who cares?

[Stratmaster7]

am disgusted with Obama [always have been actually] but this is the last straw. I would have voted for him if he''''d added Hillary to the ticket, but now? FORGET IT! He''''s going to lose big time. What a joke.

Hillary 2012



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by gopsux at 09:55 AM

sorry to break this to you, but Hillary has runied any chances she had of ever being elected to a national post. Good luck with that bitterness. seek professional help.

[Stratmaster7]

does anybody else think that a lot of americans will have the same reaction this dem-turned-indie did, which is that standing next to biden, obama''''s youth and lack of experience seem even greater? i mean, i look at the photo and the first thought that comes to my mind is, why isn''''t biden the presidential candidate and obama the vp pick?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ccfsdca at 01:55 PM :

I guess if you think older is better you would ask that question. If you think smarter is better Obama is the obvious choice over McCain

[trrrorislam2]

HAHAHA IS HUSSEIN BEING PROPHETIC,,,

WHEN HE INTRODUCES BIDEN AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT,,, lol

hahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBMoi3JaWiA

[kevingrze]

The Republicans lie and smeer and are lousy Americans. They try to deceive and make Democrats believe Hillary supporters will back McCain and they continue to voice support for Clinton as VP. Pat Buchanon give me a break. Republicans have no vision but more war and tax breaks for the rich. A 72 year old man who seems confused and lies is not a leader for the future. But Repugs are rotton Americans!

[trrrorislam0]

HUSSEIN AND THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY

The racist NBPP is led by notorious extremist, Malik Zulu Shabazz, and is a registered team member and blogger on Obama%u2019s campaign website.

Barack Obama and The New Black Panther Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DQAOZlNrO8

Snarling at the White Man
Leaders of the New Black Panther Party, unlike those of its namesake of the 1960s and 1970s, speak of ''white devils'' and ''bloodsucking Jews''

Khalid Muhammad.
Muhammad, who first appeared publicly as the new Panthers'' leader at the Jasper demonstration in 1998, had long been known as the leading spokesman for the black separatist Nation of Islam. He lost that post after Nation leader Louis Farrakhan was widely criticized for Muhammad''s violently hateful speeches.

He has blamed slavery and even the Holocaust on the "hooked-nose, bagel-eating, lox-eating, perpetrating-a-fraud, so-called Jew."

He has launched repeated diatribes against his enemies: "white devil crackers," "bloodsucking Jews" and "*******."

Muhammad had clear ideas for dealing with whites who did not leave immediately: "We kill the women. We kill the babies. We kill the blind. We kill the cripples. We kill them all. We kill the *******. We kill the lesbians. ,,, When you get through killing them all, go to the ******* graveyard and dig up the grave and kill them a-*******-gain, because they didn''t die hard enough" the first time.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=394

[trrrorislam0]

THE REAL HUSSEIN, HIS REAL HATE OF WHITEY, HIS REAL RACISM

FROM HIS OWN MOUTH

Wright / Obama: "White Folk''s Greed Runs A World In Need"

MALCOLM-O-BAMA LAUDS MALCOLM-X

HUSSEIN THE MARXISTS

HUSSEIN THE RACIST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfC4OOm1aoM
There''s only two kinds of white folks, there''s only two kinds, bad white folks and worse white folks. That''s the only two kinds of white folks there are. Malcolm X, used to say, from the teachings of the nation of terrorislam founder Elijah Muhammad, that all white folks are bad. He said if you find one good, kill him first before he turns bad. Because he''s only faking.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=169

SHOCKING Obama words: what he really thinks of white folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77cU3jsFs&feature=related

The shocking video Barack Obama does not want you to see!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prhnc2fxAzg&feature=related

[cyndilu9]

Any working class person who does not vote for Obama / Biden is voting against his/her interests and pocket book. Do not buy in to the clever Republican ploys - they are out for the rich and big business - many have stake invested in it. vote Democrat. It''s teh only answer. go Obama / Biden!!!!1008

[bagdadshere2]

McCain welcomes those 18 million Hyllarys voters. Hyllarys supporters plus undecideds will give McCain a sweeping victory in November.

[hunterdon6]

At least the Dems have one respectable person on the ticket now. I might vote for the Dems now!

[iphyt4u]

Obama and Biden, two great Americans who had to raise themselves up through the ranks of society. Not like Bush who is the 3rd generation of being raised with a silver spoon hanging out of his mouth. Or even McCain who was raised by father and grandfathers servants. Defend the Constitution! Defend your civil rights! Fly Old Glory, and vote Democrat!

[trrrorislam0]

HAHAHA IS HUSSEIN BEING PROPHETIC,,,

WHEN HE INTRODUCES BIDEN AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT,,, lol

hahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBMoi3JaWiA

[iphyt4u]

Help free us from the chains of republican slavery an oppression. Vote Democrat! Vote for change! Vote for Obama and Biden!

[imprisonkarl]

terrorislam1 --

You need some Effexor -- you know, that anti-depressant drug that the Rethuglicans chose as their campaign 2008 slogan: The Change You Deserve!

It''s ironic that right-wing knuckle-draggers like yourself keep trying to link the Dems (and particularly Obama) to fascism -- especially since none other than Dumbya''s own grandfather lent Hitler money so he could prosecute the Holocaust, and WWII.

It''s the details that will doom John Insane.

BTW, you''ve never answered my question -- where''s Vicki Iseman?

[mcvet-1]

Biden is a joke. Yesterday he called Obama "Barrack America". Biden is trying to change Obamas name cause he knows its difficult to win the US Presidency with a name "BARRACK HUSSEIN OSAMA".

Posted by BagdadsHere2 at 07:32 AM : Aug 24, 2008

ARE you calling your Hero, McSlime a LIAR?? ROFLMAO Now WHY, I ask you, would we think YOU fascist would have anything good to say about the Democrat sellected for Vice?? ROFLMAO For some reason, you folks just do NOT have much Creditability after the WORST in Our History. Better hold on Sparky, find yourself a nice rock somewhere, because it''s going to get bumpy from here on in! Now lets hear ya! Shout it out! SIEG HEIL McSLIME

[bagdadshere2]

BILL CLINTONS (A DEMOCRAT) WORDS:

"Give me a break. BARRACK OBAMA is a ridiculous fairy tale."

Thanks Bill for endorsing McCain. Thats why McCain now leads BARRACK OSAMA with 46% to 41%.

[mcvet-1]

Posted by trrrorislam1 at 07:31 AM : Aug 24, 2008

So exactly how is Obama responsible for your rant swastika breath? PLEASE... I ask you again, GO BACK TO SCHOOL... YOU are without a doubt the most UNEDCUCATED Fascist on these boards.

[bagdadshere2]

"Barak O''''''''Meara" as Biden calls him will not win in November. He should have picked Hillary. At least she knows his name.

Posted by broncfan1661 at 07:21 AM : Aug 24, 2008
------------------------------------------------

McCain welcomes Hillarys 18 million votes.

[mcvet-1]

- if you get your way and you wont you wont have a country to be proud of chamberlans way o dealing with with the germans before ww2 didnt work and bho/biden will be worst

Posted by coryellco at 05:13 AM : Aug 24, 2008

You didn''t answer ANY of the questions posed but instead raised something totally different. Bush LIED us into a War, a War we did NOT fight. FDR, a Liberal, took us into a War we did have to fight and had to fight Con''s like the dickens to help England. It''s embarrassing when you 6th grade drop outs try to use history... SIEG HEIL McSLIME