Obama Explains His Choice, Reacts To Palin

Tells 60 Minutes Biden "Can Step In And Become President," Calls McCain's VP Pick An "Up-And-Coming Public Servant"

(CBS)  Labor Day weekend has always been considered the unofficial beginning of a presidential campaign, and while this one has been going on for a year and a half, both parties finalized their tickets this past week.

With the kids going back to school and parents back to work, the nation is focused on what many people think is one of the most important U.S. elections ever.

60 Minutes is covering the Democrats, who concluded an historic convention in Denver this week by making Senator Barack Obama of Illinois the first African-American ever nominated for president by a major party.

60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft conducted the first joint interview with the candidate and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, this past Friday, Aug. 29, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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Sen. Obama went into the Democratic convention locked in a dead heat with Republican rival John McCain and needed to do three things: introduce his running mate to the country, draw sharp distinctions between himself and his Republican opponent, and unify a Democratic party badly split by a bruising primary campaign against Hillary Clinton. By most accounts he accomplished all three.

He attracted 84,000 people to Invesco Field in Denver and another 40 million to their television sets all across America - more American saw his speech than watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

We began our conversation with the new Democratic candidates backstage just moments after the most improbable nominee had given the most important speech of his young career.

Asked if he ever doubted it was going to happen, Sen. Obama told Kroft, "Of course."

When?

"Well, let's see. About a year ago we were down 30 in Iowa. But I never doubted that it could happen. I never doubted that if we were able to mobilize the energy that you saw in that stadium," Obama said. "All across the country."

"I knew it was gonna happen before he did. I was running like the devil. I watched. I thought I was pretty good, but I watched. I watched. This guy just sort of grabbed the lightening, ya know, just grabbed it. And you could tell, Barack, I tell ya, my team knew, I knew in August," Sen. Biden told Kroft.

"We were doing okay. But this is exciting," Obama remarked.

"Were you surprised to be up here?" Kroft asked Biden.

"I was surprised, I'm truly honored to be up here. I'm a great admirer, we're friends and we fit," Biden said.

By the time Kroft continued the conversation with them the next day in Pittsburgh, the landscape had already changed: Senator McCain tried to steal the Democrat's thunder by announcing that Alaska’s conservative first-term governor, 44-year-old Sarah Palin, would be his running mate - a move widely seen as an attempt to try and siphon disaffected supporters of Senator Clinton and blue collar voters in battleground states where Obama has been the weakest.

And a few hours after McCain's announcement, Senators Obama and Biden seemed as surprised as everyone else.

Asked what he thinks of McCain's vice presidential choice, Obama told Kroft, "She seems to have a compelling life story. Obviously, she's a fine mother and an up-and-coming public servant. My sense is that she subscribes to John McCain's agenda."

"Does the fact that he chose as his vice president someone what has less experience than you take that weapon out of his arsenal?" Kroft asked.

"Well, you know, I think that's a good question to address to Senator McCain," Obama replied. "Of course, the issue of experience is going to be relevant. And if I were running against me, that's something that I would try to make an issue of as well. Particularly if I had been in Washington as long as John McCain had."

[gotalyf]

Truthbug... obviously correct. You know, I''m so glad you pointed that out. We need to keep the discourse at the kindergarten level. God forbid you could actually say something intelligent- that would mess us all up, and we''d have to think for ourselves. Can''t have that.

Look, even the Republicans are doubting McCain now- he''s got no credibility- maybe he did in the past (oh- no, I almost forgot... Keating Five. I guess no credibility in the past either). You all know it and your bleats of support just get more and more trivial and desperate. Now you''re *really* hard pressed to stand by Sarah Palin. The best it gets for her is, like Cindy McCain said- she''s the governor of the state closest to the old Soviet Union, so she''s well equipped to deal with foreign policy issues. Uh huh. Actually, she is qualified in one respect. She''s already under investigation for abuse of power. Yeah- I guess she fits right in.

But seriously, you know it to be true: John McCain is Not Your Friend. And neither is Sarah Palin (but if you elect McCain, she might be president some day-- that''s an encouraging thought, isn''t it?)

[techhere]

Palin has less records connected with GW. Bush''s administration.
McCain thought she is clean, fresh, and may mean Change which Obama represents.
Yes! She is!

McCain, you are absolutely right this time!

But what Palin aims at is Hillary''s 18 million supporters.

What?

What are you doing here?

Do you really mean that?

Help me!

[techhere]

laderamom41

Nobody''''s ego is bigger than our present commander in chief.


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Posted by lalabradle at 03:42 PM : Sep 02, 2008

Yes!
But he IS also the most timid guy I''ve ever known.
Only when Sadam was hung can he turned off his bedroom lights.
Did anyone else noticed that?

[techhere]

... I''''m the most optimistic and positive person I know! And one will become many! Obama/Biden ''''08


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Posted by Edie53-Texas at 09:07 PM : Sep 02, 2008

Texas needs more like you.
Obama/Biden ''''08
God bless John Kerry!

[edie53-texas]

USA-No 1, boy you certainly are defensive! Okay, you''re working from your blackberry ... no big deal. BUT I don''t need you to remind me that in this country
''you can have it all.'' My husband & I now own and operate our own L/S business. We did this through hard work, an education and a desire to ''have it our way.'' We don''t anwer to anyone but ourselves. But you see, what I am describing is Obama''s vision for every American. I''m with you man, YES, WE CAN have it all if we work hard, make the grades and take it seriously! I don''t know what defeatist attitude you''re referring to ... I''m the most optimistic and positive person I know! And one will become many! Obama/Biden ''08

[edie53-texas]

The buzz all day - pros and cons of McCain''s decision to choose Sarah Palin; ''pitting woman against woman''. Those of us that had to put our careers before family because we were playing with the boys (in this case, with the ''big boys''.) This woman has both a baby with Down''s syndrome & a pregnant teenage daughter. This pregnant young lady probably truly needs her mother at this time in her life. Yes, the father of the baby is marrying her but they''re kids and she must be in need of thoughtful words & wisdom, not to mention love, before she embarks on marriage & a baby. I was a career mom who put my job before my family too many times in my career. However, I turned down a job in Sales/Marketing 3x, one that meant more $$. I am now 54 years old, 10 years older than Sarah Palin, & I have to state unequivocally that you CANNOT have it all! If she accepts this position as VP, she will have to put her all into this job, i.e., family will NOT come first. I didn''t have such an important decision but I look back and have regrets about all the times I missed with my daughter growing up. I know I did what I had to do; my job paid well & I had great benefits. If I could go back & turn the hands of time, I would have devoted myself more to my family. Who''s to say what women should do or what price should be paid but I know you CANNOT HAVE IT ALL ... you just can''t! Obama/Biden ''08

[techhere]

2004-2008

OBAMA-OSAMA
BIDEN-BIN LADEN

OBAMA BIN LADEN
OSAMA BIDEN

OBAMA-BIDEN
OSAMA BIN LADEN

COINCIDENCE? OR A SIGN?

Posted by truthbug at 10:26 AM : Sep 02, 2008
________________
Jibberish


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Posted by docpeter at 12:11 PM : Sep 02, 2008

If the 2004 election happened again as you wished, you should be sent to Iran, or if you''re lucky enough to Iraq!

God bless you!

[edie53-texas]

USA-No1, first of all you have so many grammatical errors that it is difficult to understand your message. I don''t need you or anyone else to tell me what to believe or whom to believe. I presume that you support McCain/Palin, as is your choice, but don''t go around putting down our candidate in order to ''prop up yours''. I''m a 54-year-old woman that is totally capable of making my own judgments about people and I believe that the Obama/Biden ticket is much stronger than the McCain/Palin ticket. I read about 4 hours of political material every morning, do you? You choose your candidate and leave me to choose my own WITHOUT THE INSULTS. And, in closing, take a class in spelling and using the proper tense (s) for your words. That goes a long way in getting someone to listen to you!

[lalabradle]

OneTexTamale,

I can see why our country is all screwed up. I am assuming that you and Bush are both from Texas. You are comparing raising a family of 7 as a small country, and if she became VP it would make 8. You sound like a blond. Are you?

[lalabradle]

laderamom41

Nobody''s ego is bigger than our present commander in chief.