This just out from one of Iowa'a top political columnists w/the Des Moines Register

[ginchinchili]

Andrea Mitchell was just interviewing Mr. Yepsin regarding the turn of events in Pakistan:

David Yepsen on Experience
David Yepsen: does change the subject, and I think it does put a focus on candidates like Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and those with some experience in Washington. You hear it out on the campaign trail. There's a concern about it among caucus-goers and ask candidates about it, sometimes specifically about Pakistan and sometimes more generally about America's role in the world and it has the effect of sort of drowning out conversations about other issues, and I think it can also change the dynamic of the campaign.

Andrea, remember four years ago Howard Dean at this point was the front runner in Iowa. When Saddam Hussein was captured, that started to change as democratic caucus-goers started to think, hmm, maybe Howard Dean can't win a general election, so the effect of a foreign policy crisis like Pakistan I think is to change the subject of the campaign and may help those candidates who have some experience on the subject.

Here's a link to the interview.

http://www.joebiden.com/contribution/2?id=0018

[Think82]

1. Very interesting. I feel conflicting emotions

The worse things get, the more people look at serious canidates (including my candidate). I am happy at the increased attention on Joe, but how bad does it have to get?

Biden 08!

[murbley40]

2. This could be a turning point.

I sent another contribution to help in Iowa.

[ginchinchili]

4. Cool. I donated $100 to him Sunday.

Damn it, now I'll have to consider another. But I'm thrilled to have a reason.

[lyonn]

3. "You hear it out on the campaign trail. There's a concern about

it among caucus-goers......" Iowa Counts Big Time! This is probably the only chance the "lower tier" candidates have to be a real contender (don't ya just love the "tiers" for our candidates?! The Media has Spoken....

[faithfulcitizen]

5. Imagine that- experience matters...

I'm so tired of the media pushing the nominees on us! It might be more exciting to talk about the 1st women prez, 1st minority prez, or prez hottie, but it's time for a serious look at who is qualified and has the proven trustworthiness to lead this country at such a tumultuous time.

[saltpoint]

6. Agree that this is significant, and it does not bode well at all for the Giuliani

campaign, IMO.

I believe the more despairing the headlines from Iraq and Pakistan, the less likely U.S. voters are to support a man with blood dripping off his teeth. And that is one of my working descriptions of Rudy Giuliani -- a man who praises Bush for his heartlessness and arrogant foreign policy.

Biden is well-positioned to inherit some of those voters' support because he is wildly qualified on the subject and speaks to its urgency in clear and direct terms.

My guess is that a lot of voters will appreciate that, especially after 7 years of a lying baboon.

[ginchinchili]

7. Agreed. I kinda hope Giuliani wins the Repub primary.

I think he would be relatively easy to beat, especially if the Democrats nominate Joe, which is one of the reasons he's picking this fight. To get some media attention, but also to say, this is how I'd beat up on Rudy during an election. If you stuck a monocle in Giuliani's eye he'd look just like Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes.

[Frustratedlady]

9. You realize Biden talked to Musharraf several days ago, but

George talked to him today? I'm sure Joe said Musharraf called him and they talked for nearly half an hour. He didn't call the president? Hmmm!

That speaks volumes to me.

[rurallib]

8. I look at Yepsen being as much in touch with Iowans as W

is with the US. Been reading Yepson for years. Pretty much a republican hack in my eyes.