Obama wants Biden to play more prominent role

[hogwyld]

in the campaign. This is shaping up to be a juggernaut should Joe be a VP choice.

In interview with the Washington Times, Biden stops short of endorsing Obama, predicts he’ll likely emerge as the nominee after Tuesday’s contests.
“He has asked me to play a more prominent role – not in an administration, in the campaign – meaning would I be more available, would I travel with him occasionally, and I said once he gets the nomination, if he gets the nomination, then I’ll do whatever he wants.” Permalink


http://thepage.time.com/2008/05/30/obama-asks-biden-to-play-a-more-prominent-role-in-campaign/

[AspenRose]

1. Biden is being diplomatic

He doesn't want to burn his bridges with HRC so he's waiting until BHO is the nominee officially.

[hogwyld]

4. I think JB would be a terrific VP choice

He would cancel out the experience factor, and he knows how to get things through congress.

[Qutzupalotl]

47. Right on!

[Eurobabe]

2. I bet you dollars to donuts

Joe will be the Veep.

But then again, I could be wrong. :hi:

[Bucky]

5. I'll take that bet...

but only because donuts are going to start costing more than a dollar soon.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. I think Joe is best as the Sec. of State. I've always believed that...

Not as the VP. I don't think he fits.

[Eurobabe]

15. What are your reasons for saying that?

Why don't you think he fits?

Just curious.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. Joe is better suited for the Sec. of State..

Because he has negotiated before with foreign leaders and was very effective, serving as a diplomat
Because he was the only one who boldly asserted that Pakistan was harboring bin Laden and that Musharaf is NOT our ally
Because as a VP running mate, he'll have to face Repug bashing on his alleged plagiarism when he was in college; they'll pound him into the ground on that
As a VP candidate, I fear that he'll have the propensity to put his foot in his mouth
As a VP candidate, he doesn't help Obama deliver any swing states
As a VP candidate, he is pro-corporate, a member of the DLC and won't be able to deliver the "blue collar" or working-class voters

Bottom line: I don't see how Biden would add to Obama's ticket other than being a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is also a senator and Obama needs someone with more executive experience.

He's more suited for Sec. of State in my view because he is much more effective as a diplomat. I would even see him as a UN Ambassador. Either position would be great for Obama's cabinet. I've always liked and respected Joe Biden but I just don't think he's right for the VP position.

I hope I made some sense here...

[Eurobabe]

27. You have some valid points

I agree that we don't need to lose 2 Dem senators. I think a Gov. on the ticket would be better, but they have their weaknesses too, outside of Richardson, what Gov. has FP experience?

I disagree that CONS have ANY mileage with the plagiarism charge. That's old history. And to be honest, I don't think most people care about one unattributed quote from 1988.

Do you think someone like Strickland (OH) or Rendell (PA) could help Obama in the fall? I think either one of them would be a disaster, I'd rather have Richardson on the ticket over those two. Rendell has foot-in-mouth-itis WORSE than Biden!

But I could see Biden as Sec of State. Or Veep. :hi:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

29. They all have their weaknesses, including Richardson...

Though Richardson has more experience than anyone, he has personal issues and has been accused of philandering or womanizing. But for me, he is one of the best choices because he's not too old or too young and has all of this experience. He can help Obama regionally in the West with some swing states. He can help Obama with the Hispanic vote, sans the Cubans. But I fear that the bigots won't vote for a black man AND a Hispanic. But Richardson's experience may trump his racial heritage.

At first I liked Strickland because he's relatively popular and can help Obama regionally with the blue collars in PA, WV, and KY. But I'm convinced that I may have been wrong. He hasn't served as governor that long and he hasn't been effective as a politician. I still do think he's a fair choice.

Rendell is OUT!! He's too corrupted by politics and he's made too many unfavorable statements against Hillary. The man is despicable. However, he could help Obama with the Jewish vote. On the other hand, I do believe that Jewish Americans will come home to the party regardless of who wins the nomination, even if it's Obama.

I am warming up to the idea of Jim Webb. However, there are several major issues with him: only serving 2 years in the Senate; no policy experience; problems with pornographic books he wrote (though I disagree). But Webb may be able to diffuse John McCain on the foreign policy issue because he served as Sec. of Navy and has seen combat. Like McCain he has a son serving in Iraq. And he beat McCain on the GI Bill. It's a winning issue. He'll also have more of a license to go after McCain because he's just as aggressive if not more so than McCain and the public wouldn't cringe at the idea of Webb taking it to McCain and shielding Obama for doing do. Webb could end up being a great choice, but perhaps too good.

[Eurobabe]

30. I've heard that

about Richardson, but can't say I have seen anything substantial to back up the claims.

I like Webb too, but then we are back to losing 2 senators again. There is no perfect choice in the end.

It's up to Barack. I trust him and his advisors to figure this one out. Just please god, don't let it be HRC. :hi:

[Spider Jerusalem]

32. Actually, we wouldn't be losing two senators.

Illinois' governor, Rod Blagojevich, is a Democrat, as is Virginia's governor, Tim Kaine. I don't see a Republican winning Obama's seat in IL, and should Webb be the VP pick, Kaine will appoint a democrat as replacement, and is term-limited and might run for Senate himself.

[Eurobabe]

52. That would be be great to have Warner (John) and Kaine

as Senators for VA. Both did great jobs as Govs. (I lived in VA under Warner).

[gateley]

42. Schweitzer for VP --

If you look into him, you'll see how flawlessly he compliments Obama on the ticket. His foreign policy experience is REAL experience. He lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years, speaks the language fluently and UNDERSTANDS the culture.

We leave the senators where we need them.

[gateley]

40. I agree he's better suited to SOS --

An elder statesman and an experienced diplomat.

I also don't think he's the "number two" type - better that he's the head of whatever he's charged with.

Also, Biden's not a member of the DLC. He's spoken there (as has Obama) but he's not a member.

[SoxFan]

49. There's no such thing as a "member of the DLC"

It's not a membership organization. Biden is close to Will Marshall, who runs the DLC's think tank and has written extensively on national security and foreign policy.

[hogwyld]

14. Wouldn't that be an awesome Good Cop/Bad Cop team?

Smooth talking Obama, backed up by Biden's rapier blade?

[WheelWalker]

37. Joe can definitely riposte the "slice & dice" can't he?

[TwilightGardener]

3. Biden should have endorsed.

[hogwyld]

7. Maybe Obama asked him to wait

to avoid the appearance of "piling on"

[BklynChick]

8. I agree, and he may be one of the big guns to be pulled out after June 3

[hogwyld]

11. I agree with you that he has the stature

within the party, to make that walk, along with Al, Carter, et al to let Hillary know that it's over.

[Mass]

12. Biden said that he committed to both of them he would endorse nobody.

Good for him to keep his word.

[hogwyld]

18. It also means he has the ooooomph

to ask either candidate to drop out when the time comes.

[jillan]

35. He won't do it. He has too much respect for both Hillary and Obama.

Classy!

[BklynChick]

6. VP VP VP !

[Steely_Dan]

9. Joe Biden for President n/t

[jillan]

34. I second that motion!

[Mass]

10. This is a strange article. Why does Biden state the obvious. Any Democratic nominee would want Biden

as one of his/her surrogates in foreign policy.

I like Biden and think he would be a fine choice for VP, though I would prefer somebody more on the domestic policy side, but this article is really weird. I guess it is simply the lousy writing of the Washington Times.

[hogwyld]

17. But if Biden accepts the position

then that also means the Joe is comfortable with Obama and his ideals.

[Mass]

19. Well, he has been saying for weeks now that he is.

I am puzzled by the article, not by the fact that Obama would want Biden as one of his advisors in foreign policy or by the fact that Biden is comfortable with Obama's ideals.

[peoli]

16. oh yeah baby!

[karynnj]

20. The quote says "in the campaign"

" not in an administration" which would mean being a surrogate - which makes sense once Obama is the nominee. Biden was usually a good surrogate for Kerry in 2004 and likely previous Democrats. He has always been a favorite on the talk shows - so I would be a stunned if he were not used. I suspect that we will see Biden, Kerry, Dodd, and others like Clark out there helping Obama with their strength on foreign policy and national security.

[hogwyld]

21. I love watching Joe on the Sunday news shows

and think that he could really be a huge asset for the O team.

[FrenchieCat]

22. Interesting.

and good to hear.

[navarth]

23. Richardson for VP, Biden for S of S, Edwards for AG

whattaya think?

[hogwyld]

24. I could definitely get behind that administration

Or if you switched Biden and Richardson. Clark as SecDef would be great as well.

[KamaAina]

33. Alas, Clark has only been out of the service for eight years

the SecDef must have been a civilian for ten. :(

Of course, there's always Obama's second term...

[Muttocracy]

38. I think most people here don't know that rule - I sure didn't - might be worth an OP? nt

[newmajority]

26. I think that sounds about right.

:kick:

[Coexist]

28. awesome.

[Muttocracy]

31. Here's the Wash Times article itself - lots of interesting tidbits in there

http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/may/30/bidens-strength-in-foreign-policy-recruited-by-oba

[jillan]

36. I would like Biden to accompany Obama to Iraq....

Biden knows alot of insiders in Iraq.
He could set up a meeting with them to sit down with Obama.
Obama would then receive straight talk about the real situation over there, not the usual fluff that McCain receives.
Obama would come back from Iraq more knowledgeable and more ready to take on McCain.

[grantcart]

41. good point

[medicswife]

45. You are always so on point, Pirhana! n/t

[jillan]

46. It's so good to have you around again :)

[livetohike]

48. This is a great idea!

I'd like to see Wesley Clark go with them too.

[jillan]

39. CNN talking about this right now....how great it is to have Biden helping Obama.

Talking about the problems with Samantha Powers and the other advisor that met with Hamas....

and how Biden will be a great help.

I'm lovin' it.

[medicswife]

43. Yay Joe!!!!!!

Hooray for Biden! Hip hip Hooray! Best news I've heard in days!

[Indenturedebtor]

44. I'd be in support of either VP or any High Lvl Cabinet Position for Biden

He's tough, smart, and knows his ish. Doesn't hurt that he's honest either.

[Think82]

50. Well duh! Biden's THE MAN

And Obama shares the same values, I imagine

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. Undoubtedly, Biden is a respected elder statesman. I think his endorsement will be HUGE!!

Not like Gore's, Pelosi's or Reid's, but still HUGE!!