Active Biden Redefining Vice Presidency

(AP)  Early in the 2008 campaign, when high hopes hadn't given way to harsh realities, presidential candidate Joe Biden told his wife Jill, "I can picture myself sitting in the Oval Office. I can picture who I'd pick up the phone and call."

It turns out that Biden is getting calls from the president, not making them. But he's taken to the supporting role nonetheless, as he re-redefines the job of vice president after Dick Cheney's unprecedented grasp on the levers of power in the George W. Bush administration.

Biden's to-do list was defined at the outset by two central issues for President Barack Obama: keeping the U.S. on track to get out of Iraq and making sure that hundreds of billions of economic stimulus dollars are spent swiftly and smartly. And nothing illustrates how he has cemented his personal relationship with Obama better than his behind-the-scenes role as skeptic-in-chief in hour upon hour of private deliberations over what the U.S. should do next in Afghanistan.

"You can always count on him to ask probing questions, and he has," says David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Obama.

Biden is busy. Phone calls to foreign leaders alternate with mediating disputes between governors and mayors over how to spend highway money. Flights to Baghdad are interspersed with trips to Boston. His policy turf has expanded as Obama calls on him to cajole for health care votes, tend to U.S. alliances abroad, promote nuclear nonproliferation and take on more political appearances as the midterm election season approaches.

He's made eight foreign trips this year, including three to Iraq. And next week he's off to meet leaders in Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic who have a big stake in the administration's revamped plans for a European missile shield. On Capitol Hill, the vice president makes it a point to hit the StairMaster in the Senate gym at least once a week, to help stay connected to former colleagues.

Over the months, Obama and Biden gradually have gotten more comfortable with one another in their respective roles as decider and adviser something not initially taken for granted.

Early on, "there was a lot of uncertainty" about how Obama would use Biden, says Ron Klain, the vice president's chief of staff, adding that the chemistry between the two has worked out better than some had expected.

"Their most important interactions," says Axelrod, "are interactions that no one actually sees."

That's not to say that Biden's transition from lone ranger to a supporting role under Obama has been seamless.

At age 66, Biden ever will be Biden, and that means a shoot-from-the-lip style that feeds stereotypes of him as both a straight talker and a gaffe machine.

Over-the-top rhetoric that might have provoked a mere eye-roll when he was a senator looms larger when uttered as vice president. Critics point to any number of off-key notes: Biden angered Russia with his comments about its "withering economy;" he irked Iraq's leaders by pushing them to be more accountable; he triggered a day of backtracking after swearing off trains and planes because of swine flu worries.

And when Biden declared that no matter how hard the administration tries to do right, "there's still a 30 percent chance we're going to get it wrong," he got a public poke from Obama.

"You know, I don't remember exactly what Joe was referring to, not surprisingly," Obama told reporters.

Axelrod waves off the significance of such incidents.

"Everybody's strength is also their weakness," Axelrod says. "Biden is honest. He's blunt, sometimes to a fault, but the trade-off isn't even close."

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[watkinsjr2000]

Joe Biden as V.P. is an enormous upgrade from the man who previously held the job. For 8 years Dick Cheney served as a "shadow president" and the virtual dictator of the United States.Often his decisions seemed more driven by paranoia than objectivity, and we are still paying dearly for many of them. I, for one, am very glad that the 2008 election swept those of his ilk from power.

[Sloughfoot]

""Everybody's strength is also their weakness," Axelrod says. "Biden is honest. He's blunt, sometimes to a fault,"

Good attributes in most people eyes, however in Washington it is seen as a fault-explains a lot, it does.

[Upstaterealtor]

Sometimes Joe Biden comes across as a ******* and sometimes he comes across as having some good points...the main thing is he questions our president instead of shoving his nose up potus' ass and assuming everything he says to be gospel, thank you Joe!

[mjvwsr]

joe is certainly proving that it is possible to hold elective office with one foot in your mouth

[aldon62]

Biden is a breath fo fresh air, sures he makes gaffes's, but listen to what he says. Obama made a good selection for veep.

[jxknowles]

How unfair. Cheney was active too. I think he had had his second heart surgery (on the taxpayers' dime) this far into his Vice-Presidency.