Biden's Predictably Unpredictable Campaign

Obama's Running Mate Has Made Expected Gaffes, But Democrats Say He's Been An Asset Regardless

(AP)  Joe Biden's performance as Barack Obama's running mate has been pretty predictable - even when unpredictable.

The biggest knock against Biden during discussions on whether he would make a good vice presidential nominee was that his mouth tends to get him in trouble. And it has, with Biden recently raising the expectation that Obama would be tested by an international crisis soon after taking office - a comment that Obama said showed Biden's penchant for "rhetorical flourish."

Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin have used that comment to suggest that Obama is not prepared to deal with such a problem. That's not what Biden said - he argued Obama would persevere because he's "got steel in his spine." But McCain is using a recording of Biden's comments in a new ad against Obama.

"We're going to have an international crisis ... to test the mettle of this guy," Biden says in a recording replayed in the ad over grainy images of a woman crying and people rioting in the streets of a foreign land. "I guarantee you it's going to happen."

An announcer interjects: "It doesn't have to happen. Vote McCain."

But despite the occasional gaffe that's been highlighted, the Obama team says Biden has been a steady asset.

"Yes, there are those moments when you say, 'Wow, I wonder why he said that,"' said Obama adviser David Axelrod, but he added, "Even in the cold hard world of politics, you just look at his numbers. The American people have really embraced him and he's got a very favorable standing.

"So I don't care if every once in a while there's one of those cases where you sort of say, 'Geez, I'm not sure I would have said it just that way.' I don't care about that because at the end of the day, I think the upside is so great," Axelrod said in a telephone interview.

Since the party conventions, Biden's favorable ratings have steadily gone up. An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll conducted earlier this month found both Biden and Palin were viewed favorably by 48 percent of respondents, but his figure was up from 37 percent the previous month, while hers remained about the same as her earlier 47 percent. And her unfavorables were rising, from 28 percent to 39 percent, while his went from 30 percent to 33 percent.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll of voters in the swing state of Ohio this month found nearly four in 10 moderates were less apt to vote for McCain because of the Palin pick, double the proportion drawn to him as a result of her nomination. Biden attracted three times as many moderates to Obama as he pushed away.

Biden completed his 170th interview Friday night in the two months since becoming a vice presidential candidate, according to a tally by his staff. He's been a constant McCain critic and has been on television at critical moments, such as going on all the networks after every presidential debate while Palin was declining to do interviews.

Biden has been the least covered by the national media of any of the four nominees, but he's generating steady local coverage in key markets. The campaign has dispatched him to areas filled with working-class voters and his fellow Catholics, hoping he can make a connection where maybe Obama can't.

"He's going to a lot of places where Barack certainly didn't do as well in the primaries and talking to folks and bringing them over," said 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, who is close to both men on the ticket. He said he encouraged Obama to pick Biden because of his experience in legislation, foreign affairs and politics.

Axelrod said Biden is deeply involved in campaign discussions, and often will share what he's seeing on the trail and how issues are playing. Unlike the Republican ticket that campaigns together frequently, Biden and Obama have mostly kept separate schedules. One aide said they send e-mail messages frequently on the BlackBerrys they carry on their hips, and talk on the phone about once a day on average.

Biden has said if the Democratic ticket is elected, he would like to use his 36 years of experience in the Senate to carry out a President Obama's agenda on Capitol Hill.

He's respected by lawmakers in both parties for a breadth of knowledge developed over decades of service that have included leadership of the Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees.

It's an insider experience that Obama lacks, and a role that has not been Vice President Dick Cheney's focus. Cheney has been a forceful hand helping guide the Bush administration from the confines of the White House, while venturing to Capitol Hill occasionally to cast a tie-breaking vote or meet with lawmakers from his own party.

"The advantage you have here is you've got in Joe Biden somebody who's seen a lot of mistakes made in Washington and who himself has led major committees," Kerry said. "That is an enormous help to any president."

[suki33]

If you vote for Obama/Biden I hope you are comfortable with two candidates that have been given a lot of passes by the press no matter what they do. With Biden it''s mistakes and misspeaks all the while assuming he isn''t really accountable for anything he says. With Obama you have a candidate that moves smoothly from being for things before he is against them. The press certainly have expressed their approval of the two in their favorable coverage, no matter what they do.

I only hope if they win that neither receives one of those 3 AM calls that Hillary cautioned about in the primary. I''m not comfortable with either of them being there, but I guess they will have so many people behind them that it won''t really matter very much. At least I hope it doesn''t.

[white-marsh]

NEWS ANCHOR FAILS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SMEAR SENATOR OBAMA AS A MARXIST DURING INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR BIDEN

First the backdrop. Barbara West is married to Wade West, a political media consultant for Republican politicians and organizations. Not sure if Senator Biden knew that when he sat down to do the interview. Barbara also is an ABC News Anchor with Orlando, Florida affiliate WFTV channel 9, which is owned by Cox Enterprise.

But with all her so-call ''professional objectivity'', Barbara could not resist the temptation to try and smear Senator Obama with Marxist question while interviewing Senator Joe Biden. Either way, Senator Biden handled himself very well. Naturally the full interview is all over the web and a %u201Cmust see" video.

GOD Bless the United States of America!
GOD Bless the Obama-Biden Leadership Team!

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/10/wftvs-barbara-w.html

[hamiltongrad]

Down stream Jim : Right on ! What a goofy guy Biden is. If he were Rep. talking about FDR on TV ? he would have to have a brain MRI.

[whosaid1]

What ??? No mention yet on CBS about the Biden interview and the democrats "cutting off" future interview because he didn''t like the questions?? So, liberal media...in an Obama administration as long as you continue to follow the talking points you''ll be ok...but, don''t ask any real questions....

[downsteamjim]

A classic textbook example of a puff piece. He has made 10 times the gaffs of Dan Quale, but as a democrat they are ignored.

[nightfal23-2009]

Thanks, and you as well.
I''m proud to be in country where there ARE isles and I really just want the raging to stop and people to discuss what''s important.
I''m a musician & have frinds all over the nation. Deep south Maine, you name it.
I have no agenda really. I Just want the best for all.

I have an opinions on issues, but some are conservative, some are centrist.
I make no claim to the ultimate truth.
Trash talking ANY candidate makes me ill.
I''m 51. My friends & I have often wondered why so many (hopefully less every year) have to say the other opinion is unamerican.
No matter what the opinion is, as long as it''s legal under the first amendment, it should be said with respect.

CBS is clear that a vigorous debate is welcome.
Just "cussing out" the other guy/gal with insults saddens me.
I happen to like both candidates. That''s not a misprint.
Personally, in my dream one would be Pres, one would be VP. i.e. McCain/Obama...Obama/McCain.
Then they''d HAVE to listen to each other, and I suspect they truly disagree a lot less than their "handlers" push them to admit.

The US constitution was debated heatedly before it was finally signed & ratified. It almost didn''t get ratified.
They were All good men, trying to do their best.
They understood back in those dire times, that sticking together was the single most important thing if they were to survive as a nation.

Today we''re fighting to survive in a different way.
WE could use more of that kind of thinking today.
jmho

[model67a]

sorry didn''t mean to ride you like that. thought you were doing it intentionally. You and I are on different sides of the isle, but you have a good day

[nightfal23-2009]

sorry, I clicked "post" & the website kept saying it was clogged & couldn''t post, so "please check back". I did and it said the same thing. It never said thanks for your post
I only intended to post it once.
If I can, I''ll pull the repeats.
No foul was intended...

[model67a]

nightfal 23 You run your posts over and over. Do you do that to make yourself feel good seing them in print???

[model67a]

nightfal23 How many times are you going to run that post????

[nightfal23-2009]

FACT CHECK...
Regarding the post by Xlib at 11:36 AM : Oct 26, 2008..
"FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to clam the public."
And.. Xlib: "I just don''''t know how Hoover took to FDR doing that when, hey, he was President at the time."

FACT CHECK, Xlib:
FDR''s FIRST of his many "fireside chats" to the nation (the first was about about the banking industry and a possible run on the banks) , was delivered March 12,1933, WELL AFTER he became president.
No, Xlib, they had no TV they were radio broadcasts. See for yourself.

It seems transparently foolish to criticize so freely, without knowing your American history.
Please learn more about the country you live in.
It might also be more "Amercian" to stop insulting "indians", as a group.

ttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html

[model67a]

It was said in a post that Joe Biden speaks his mind. You better think about that one. Just think about how screwed up his talking is!!!!

[nightfal23-2009]

FACT CHECK...
Regarding the post by Xlib at 11:36 AM : Oct 26, 2008..
"FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to clam the public."
And.. Xlib: "I just don''''t know how Hoover took to FDR doing that when, hey, he was President at the time."

FACT CHECK, Xlib:
FDR''s FIRST of his many "fireside chats" to the nation (the first was about about the banking industry and a possible run on the banks) , was delivered March 12,1933, WELL AFTER he became president.
No, Xlib, they had no TV they were radio broadcasts. See for yourself.

It seems transparently foolish to criticize so freely, without knowing your American history.
Please learn more about the country you live in.
It might also be more "Amercian" to stop insulting "indians", as a group.

ttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html

[nightfal23-2009]

FACT CHECK...
Regarding the post by Xlib at 11:36 AM : Oct 26, 2008..
"FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to clam the public."
And.. Xlib: "I just don''''t know how Hoover took to FDR doing that when, hey, he was President at the time."

FACT CHECK, Xlib:
FDR''s FIRST of his many "fireside chats" to the nation (the first was about about the banking industry and a possible run on the banks) , was delivered March 12,1933, WELL AFTER he became president.
No, Xlib, they had no TV they were radio broadcasts. See for yourself.

It seems transparently foolish to criticize so freely, without knowing your American history.
Please learn more about the country you live in.
It might also be more "Amercian" to stop insulting "indians", as a group.

ttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html

[nightfal23-2009]

FACT CHECK...
Regarding the post by Xlib at 11:36 AM : Oct 26, 2008..
"FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to clam the public."
And.. Xlib: "I just don''''t know how Hoover took to FDR doing that when, hey, he was President at the time."

FACT CHECK, Xlib:
FDR''s FIRST of his many "fireside chats" to the nation (the first was about about the banking industry and a possible run on the banks) , was delivered March 12,1933, WELL AFTER he became president.
No, Xlib, they had no TV they were radio broadcasts. See for yourself.

It seems transparently foolish to criticize so freely, without knowing you American history.
Please learn more about the country you live in.
It might also be more "Amercian" to stop insulting "indians", as a group.

ttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html

[Stratmaster7]

Xlib, it has been a long and hard campaign season, hasn''t it? It must be frustrating to have spent all this time and energy trying to defend the indefensible, only to see McCain crash and burn day after day. At least you can look forward to Palin in four years, as she has obviously abandoned the McCain effort in an attempt to position her own political success in the future. So typically GOP. I commend you for your efforts, and I assume that as the patriotic American you and the rest of the GOP say you are, you will jump fully behind the new President, regardless of who it is, and attempt to help them be succesful for the sake of America. Right?

[nightfal23-2009]

FACT CHECK...
Regarding the post by Xlib at 11:36 AM : Oct 26, 2008..
"FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to clam the public."
And.. Xlib: "I just don''''t know how Hoover took to FDR doing that when, hey, he was President at the time."

FACT CHECK, Xlib:
FDR''s FIRST of his many "fireside chats" to the nation (the first was about about the banking industry and a possible run on the banks) , was delivered March 12,1933, WELL AFTER he became president.
No, Xlib, they had no TV they were radio broadcasts. See for yourself.
ttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html

[xlib]

rdbpontb-yep, joe sure is respected, especially in 7/11''s and DunkinDonut shops. Ya know why?? Well,joe recognizes that people who work in thos places are Indians and you have a hard time understanding them.
He also knows that FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to clam the public. Yep, joe is wise. I just don''t know how Hoover took to FDR doing that when, hey, he was President at the time. Don''t think TV was around in 1929. But, hey, joe is wise.
Why, he is so wise he is predicting a "crisis" within the messiah''s first 6 months as dictator, ur, president. Yep, joe is wise.
He also wrote a great piece in his college days, so great that he lifted it from someone else. Whatta guy!

[xlib]

bill514-read Rand''s "We the Living" and "Anthemn". Chilling, very chilling. Rand died in the 70''s and old, wise woman. Her theory of objectivism looks real, real good to me now.
We are in for a world of hurt.

[xlib]

So joe does an interview on WFLA in Orlando, Florida and the journalist has the AUDACITY to ask him a question about the messiah''s plans to "spread the wealth". You know, the answer he gave "joe the plummer" that got buried because his minions in the media tore ole joe the plummer a new one. Anyway, so, this woman asks joe biden about the plan being marxist and joe about fainted. Now, this plan has been called socialism, marxism by the mccain camp and this would have given the messiah''s team a real chance to answer. INSTEAD, the messiah''s camp has blacklisted this station. They came out and said they would not give anymore interviews on the station,
Now, that smells like facism to me. The end result is, do not question the messiah!!! Just don''t do it.
Yep, it''s gonna be a great America floks, just great.