"I think he'd be a good choice. Plus there's this: a friend of mine has taken a major Biden position on InTrade and stands to make out like a bandit if he gets the nod. So I'm rooting for him."

Ben Smith was right. Go short Biden at current levels.

Do you really think Team Chicago is going to telegraph the actual pick 48 hours before they announce it?

Biden '08 = Gephardt '04.

He's done his penance, and in any case, who's going to raise it as an issue? McCain?

The problem is the potential to neutralize the issue for Obama against McCain.

Biden has a special place in my heart because he is the only US Senator I've actually met (we passed while walking in opposite directions down a street in Washington DC). But he's a very uninspiring choice.

Yeah, he's a bit of dick, which is exactly why he should be the VP pick. Obama needs a brawler to back him up.

I tend to think picking a Senate fixture massively waters down Obama's change-and-fresh-blood theme. I realize that the countervailing theory is that the candidate needs some dinosaur to lend heft to the ticket.

In any case, I cracked up at some blogger's speculation that Biden is now penning his 50,000-word acceptance speech.

The bankruptcy bill was a bad deal, but it passed by a big margin and everyone votes for home state interests now and then

Most citizens of Delaware are not credit card company owners.

Biden's partition plan for Iraq should be put into practice in Delaware.

Biden has a special place in my heart because he is the only US Senator I've actually met (we passed while walking in opposite directions down a street in Washington DC).

I've met a few of 'em, but the one with the special place in my heart is Lieberman, only because I got to yell at him in (Not Reagan to Me) National Airport. If only I had been brave enough to use profanity.

Figures. Joe Biden is just the kind of guy a Kevin Drum would pick.

Well, after being dead-set against it, I'm kind of hoping Obama picks Hillary. She has many character flaws which I can't stand, but I think she would undoubtedly help the ticket. And McCain's a little too close in the polls for my taste...the latest one shows him leading by 5, which is probably bullshit, but still...we need Obama to win this.

Biden's ok, but his motormouth gets him into trouble. And he'll have 2 months of intense scrutiny before the election....does anyone think he'll be able to avoid a major snafu during that time?

Off the wall/out of the box time, as always with me:

Obama/Lugar

I seem to remember him standing out in the primary debates. If nothing else, we could actually win a VP debate this time (Edwards, Lieberman, ugh).

Another plus: Biden has spoken of Obama as being both clean and articulate. It's important for a VP candidate to speak respectfully of the Presidential candidate.

Biden's support for the war might have been an issue in the Democratic primary, but I don't see it being an albatross in the general election. He's done his penance, and in any case, who's going to raise it as an issue? McCain?

Obviously, the point isn't that McCain would raise the issue. The point is that having someone who initially supported the war on his ticket prevents Obama from hammering the issue of piss poor judgment against McCain. That, combined with the fact that pretty much the only job Biden has ever held is that of US Senator, pretty effectively undercuts Obama's messages of judgment & change. Don't get me wrong. There's lots to like about Biden. I just don't think he's the right one for this position.

Richardson, on the other hand -- that's something to get excited about. Capable & experienced, to be sure, but he improves the chances of flipping New Mexico considerably. It's also interesting to consider the effect that selecting a Latino VP from the Mountain West might have on Latino voters in Nevada & Colorado.

This idea baffles me. Listening to even five minutes of Biden's smarmy bloviating while he is ostensibly "questioning" a witness during a committee hearing is downright traumatic. I fear he would cause undecided voters to turn away in droves.

I think Obama should pick Lieberman. Steal McInsane's thunder - and how would Lieberman be able to bring down the house at the GOP convention if he is all goo-gaw about being picked as Obama's date and while trying to survive the resulting lynch mob at the Democrap convention?

Jeralyn Merritt is a nitwit. That is all.

There are no good choices. That is, there is no person who, when added to the ticket, will make a significant positive difference just by being on the ticket. If there were such a person, it would be pretty easy to figure out who it is.

Once the choice is announced, we will get non-stop attack coverage on that person from every corner of the corporate press/media. The goal will be to establish that the person is 'controversial' and the goal will be attained simply by declaring it to be so. The Republicans will be helped in establishing this by several Democrats who will be happy to appear on cable shows to declare the VP nominee to be 'controversial.'

That fact alone will then be a one-week saturation story that the VP choice shows that Obama is 'not ready to lead.'

I guarantee this.

It will be Sebelius and that will be the nail in the coffin of Obama's tone-deaf and meek campaign. Good riddance. I look forward to Obama pulling a Mondale and carrying exactly one state in fall and then disappearing into the sleaze of Chicago that he emerged from. He has failed the Democratic party and the people of this country with his ineptitude and passivity.

To win the election, although that chance is likely gone now anyway, Obama would have had to choose either Clinton (without whom he will not have unified Democratic support) or a white male military officer (like Webb, Clark, or Zinni) who could have attacked McCain's strength.

Choosing Sebelius is a stupid and fatal move for a candidate who is already seen as not masculine and aggressive enough by a significant number of voters.

In the headiness of the campaign season it's easy to forget that Biden has often been referred to as the Senator from MBNA. Hmm, a pro-war corporate insider...I think I'll take a pass. If Obama were to pick a VP based on foreign policy chops my vote would be for Wesley Clark.

I find it interesting how much criticism Clinton got during the campaign for racist comments that her "surrogates" made . . . and then the same people have no problem when one of those "surrogates" is suggested as the VP nominee.

There are no good choices. That is, there is no person who, when added to the ticket, will make a significant positive difference just by being on the ticket. If there were such a person, it would be pretty easy to figure out who it is.

I disagree -- Mark Warner is a great choice, and I still think he could end up on the ticket.

One of the most important things I discovered during the primary season is that Jeralyn Merritt is a fucking idiot.

Biden is not perfect, but he is the best choice available for what Obama needs from a VP, which is to do to McCain what Jesse Jackson wanted to do to Obama. Rock is right than Sibelus would be a disaster, would allow the GOP to push their Daddy Party schtick to the hilt. Webb or Zinni would have been great choices, but for whatever reason, they declined to play, so Biden seems the best available at this point.

BTW, I know Obama wants to do this by his own rules, but he's on a much different playing field now than the controlled environment of the Dem primaries, which he could manipulate to his advantage. He's got to kick his game up several notches, or its going to slip away fast. He's swimming upstream anyway because of the race issue(whether or not anyone wnat to admit it) and a leisurely backstroke is not going to get him to the finish line in time. He needs to light some afterburners NOW, and I hope he can do it beginning with the VP pick announcement.

Unless Obama really surprises us, it seems like any pick he makes in the next couple days is going to disappoint. A conventional, do no harm pick isn't going to provide a lift going into the convention, and the narrative will be two weeks of wondering where Obama's bounce went.

I really hope he isnt' going to pick one of the three or four names being floated by the press. I'm pulling for Clark, or perhaps even better, Webb. Webb has some negatives, but the narrative of 'Navy man from Appalachia with son in Iraq abandons the Republican party (cause it abandoned him first) and joins the bright-eyed upstart to help heal the country' is extremely powerful and plays right into Obama's electoral strategy.

One of the most important things I discovered during the primary season is that Jeralyn Merritt is a fucking idiot.

In Jeralyn's defense, she put me in contact with a civil right's lawyer (within minutes of me sending her a frantic email) when I worried I was going to get reconditioned and sent to Guantanamo. Seriously. She's alright :)

Does it really matter? Is there any science (you know, the real, peer reviewed kind; not some lame opinion poll) that shows a VP choice has any significant bearing on electoral outcome? Absent such a body of research, I'm not inclined to believe any significant portion of the electorate is going to change their vote based on who is running for Vice President.

I trust Senator Obama will choose the right running mate based on his own criteria. I assume those criteria will be weighted more toward the ability to discharge the duties of Vice President than any scheme to grab a few extra votes.

I think Biden would be a great choice for the usual reasons, and the pair would have a classy "ebony and ivory" cuteness to them. I worry about Biden saying "I'm not the guy"; should we even take that seriously (well, Kevin didn't right here, and the Intrade folks are still playing Biden right?)

BTW, top headline link on Drudge may be something to worry about:
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1927197620080820?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

This election will be about the stupid economy. Foreign affairs mean nothing.

What does Biden give voters on pocketbook issues?

Obama is NOT running on jobs and if he does not provide some assurances to voters, McCain (who has no economic policy at all) will overtake him.

Obama needs to get off foreign policy and talk about issues that matter to the voters he needs to get.

If Biden is the top choice in the week leading up to the official announcement, doesn't this pretty much guarantee that he is NOT the pick?

Has conventional wisdom EVER been right about the VP pick?

If Obama wants drama, he could do a lot worse than floating Biden out there pretty heavily and then hit us with something else.

(2) Biden's support for the war might have been an issue in the Democratic primary, but I don't see it being an albatross in the general election. He's done his penance, and in any case, who's going to raise it as an issue? McCain?

"Even my opponent has conceded the war in Iraq was the right thing to do; he has shown this in his choice for Vice-President."

(3) The bankruptcy bill was a bad deal, but it passed by a big margin and everyone votes for home state interests now and then.

"My opponent is a tool of big business." (Hey, if McCain is running pictures of windmills in his campaigns ads, he can say anything.)

His working class roots are a plus. He's comfortable in the attack dog role. Obama could probably use someone with experience on the ticket, and Biden has it.

"My opponent is so inexperienced he needs someone else to run his Presidency."

He presents a fairly moderate image thanks to a few high-profile breaks with liberal orthodoxy (electorally an asset), but his overall voting record is pretty good (10th most liberal in Keith Poole's rankings, one notch ahead of Obama).

"My opponent's choice for Vice-President is even more liberal than he is - just another blow-dried Eastern elitist."

And — big plus here — the press likes him, motormouth or not.

"Biden's friends in the press may want to suck up to him, but everyone else knows he's just another limosine (LIMOZEEN!) liberal."

Obviously, McCrazy can make those attacks on anyone; the problem is is that they'll stick to a certain extent. My problem is, is that I actually like Biden, but I think he's a poor match for Obama. He might be a little bit better than Bayh, overall, I guess, although he might be worse; Bayh might move a state. Biden would be a much better choice for SoS or even SDoD.

Schweitzer or Seibilus (sp!) or Clinton still seem like the best choices. Maybe he should pick Harry Reid; that would sort everything out!

max
['Then Biden can take charge of the Senate.']

Bakho, it is true that the economy is the main issue, but voters are looking at "the package." They know Obama is short on ForPol exp. and could use Biden's clout. BTW, Biden is "Mister MBNA" because of their influence in DE, but as VP he could afford to detach from their influence (not needing their support to get elected anymore.) Note as counteraction that Obama proposed reform of Credit Card practices such as payments going to the highest interest account instead of the lowest - *we need to make a big deal of this to the voters*.

Much as I like Tim Kaine, whom I've met and campaigned for - and as a Virginian and 'Hoo; I still must say for the interest of the ticket that Biden is the better choice for making a capable team.

BTW take a look at that link of mine above, McCain is picking up cred on the economy (!) and poll points so maybe your point is better than I thought, but I'm still sticking with Biden.

I find Biden irritating, but he's a pretty good choice for Attack Dog, which is the VP candidate's only significant function. The bipartisan gasp over the rollout of Dan Quayle didn't last long, and I don't see either candidate giving his veep Cheney powers. Clark would be my own choice.

Crime isn't much of an issue right now, but that's not to say that it couldn't become a much bigger issue within the next four years.

Oh - I was reminded of Webb, again whom I've met and campaigned for - yes a good pick, even better re the military and foreign affairs etc, but many say it would lose us a key slot in the Senate. Just remember all that when you float Congresscritters for Prez or Veep. Otherwise, I'd like Webb (and looks impressive as former Repug) except for his "misogynistic" streak. But hey, maybe Nader is right after all, that only Hillary can pull the ticket through past the opposition machine and her die-hard supporters' remaining bitterness.

enozinho,
Happy to hear you are not in Gitmo, and I'm sure Jeralyn is a fine person, but watch this and tell me she is not a fucking idiot.

On the minus side -- he's a drag. A well known drag.

He's the attack dog that will brand McCain as McSame better than the Obama campaign has so far.
I say go with him and let him off the leash.

Bill Richardson, Bill Richardson, Bill Richardson...

Just keep repeating that to yourselves- especially you, Sen. Obama. What does Richarson bring to the table? Better still, what *doesn't* he bring to the table? Former governor of a state the Dems really want to win? Check. International affairs experience? Check. Cabinet level experience? Check. Congressional experience? Check. Member of the US' fastest-growing ethnic group (Latino)? Check.

C'mon, the guy's done virtually everything you can do in government w/o being President. I don't see how you could pick a better VP than Bill Richardson.

Obama/Richardson '08,
-Z

Biden is, arguably, the most effective voice Democrats have on foreign policy. And here's why: Joe Biden is an incredibly arrogant jerk.

He could continue a relatively new tradition in Vice Presidential politics.

Actually, I like Biden despite his penchant for saying stupid things. He's spot on more then off. But he'll also be about 73 in 2016 and might not be suited to run for prez then.

However, as time goes by and the Republicoids seem to get closer, my thoughts tend to turn to only one year -- 2008. I would even give up a senate seat to keep McCain out of office. As James E Powell mentioned above, there are no good choices. I still would favor Webb or Richardson, despite the downsides. I also find myself so desparate to keep the White House out of the Retardicans hands that my memory is softening on Clinton as VP.

God I hate paranoia.

And there is this -- Obama/Biden can be rearranged to spell an idea bomb. I'm sure that's significant.

Biden as veep is a step up from Bayh or Kaine, but it still doesn't make thim the best, or even a good choice.

And there is this -- Obama/Biden can be rearranged to spell an idea bomb. I'm sure that's significant.

e henry never disappoints. However, "e henry thripshaw" set to the tune of "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" does tend to skid around my head after reading these threads.

I love the smell of panicked liberal babbling in the morning. All of this speculation is for the purpose of diverting attention from the Saddleback "debate." I would love to see the "O" man pick Biden, but he isn't that stupid.

Of the three getting the most notice, two are indistinguishable from Bushevik/GOPukes: Bayh and Kaine.
So, Biden by default, I guess...

Not thrilled, but not a deal-killer for me, as Kaine or Bayh would be...

back at ya, posh trots.

I like Joe Biden a lot but I'm wondering if maybe he's . . . well, not rich enough. This guy has been part of the political elite of this country for decades and after all that time, according to the Washington Post he's worth between $100K and $150K. There are folks who own a dry cleaner who are worth far more than that.

It sounds kinda silly but maybe there's a real risk here. Might it actually bother the American people that this guy obviously doesn't care much about money? After all, if he doesn't care that he himself does well economically, maybe he doesn't think it's important for other folks to do well?

If you put Biden's modest holdings next to McCain's married-into wealth, I have a feeling Americans will incline toward liking and respecting McCain more just on that basis.

Have all the pro-Biden people forgotten the hair plugs? And that fact that he's in love with the sound of his own voice?

Wouldn't Biden's lack of personal wealth during his extremely long Senatorial career imply he is less corrupt than the average Senator? Not that he's the right choice per se, just sayin',

"He's done his penance, and in any case, who's going to raise it as an issue? McCain?"

Right. It's pretty unlikely that Republicans would attack somebody relentlessly on an issue that they did the same thing on all the while trying to spin it as an attack on the hypocrisy of their target. Because Republicans just don't do things like that.

Aren't you a little too mature and upper middle class to sniff glue?

"His working class roots are a plus."

I've heard about those roots, but they sure don't show.

He's got to ditch the colored shirts with the white collars. Only bankers wear them (maybe the Delaware connections explains why Biden does) AND they are soooo 20th century.

I've always liked him on the Sunday gasbags, to.

A couple of days ago, I thought Obama needed Hillary. That she'd be a good attack dog (tho her comments in the primaries that she and McCAIN were both qualified to be President would probably haunt the ticket). I thought her supporters needed to become enthusiastic about the ticket.

Then yesterday I had a nice long discussion with an Obama telemarketer (a true supporter, and yes I did agree to send $ after taking up so much of his time).

He wouldn't pick a VP nominee, saying he trusted Obama to make the best choice (a very GOOD volunteer), but when I touted Hillary he made an interesting remark. "A lot of people don't want to see the Clintons back in the White House."

Yep, I had to agree.

Biden is a confessed plagiarist. Should be enough said right there.

Two off-the-radar choices:

1) Mario Cuomo
2) Mike Gravel

you all sound so stupid.

you all sound so stupid.

Biden has always been my first choice, in fact he and Richardson were my choices for Prez before they dropped out before the CA primary. Richardson wouldn't be good choice because of potential skeletons in his closet (so touchy feely his own Lt. Gov doesn't want to be in the same room). And since Clark is going to out of the country next week, Webb has pointedly declined, HRC has a WJC problem, and if you want someone to fill the Obama experience gap, then Biden is the only logical choice. The governors don't add anything at all to the ticket, except nobody knows who they are (outside of Political Animals). The only alternative to Biden IMHO is Jack Reed from Rhode Island (ex-Army Ranger, same foreign policy/defense experience as Biden), but he also has said he doesn't want it. At least Biden was honest when he said he didn't want it but would say yes if asked.

If Barry is dumb enough to pick Joe Biden (D-Diarhea of the mouth) we are all doomed. Biggest. Blowhard. Ever. On the positive side, we'll get the hairplug vote.

By the way, shortstop, I didn't realize you were here in my fair city. Were you the one I saw at Reagan handing out flowers?

Biden would make an excellent choice. Like Obama himself, he will do what he is told and bring money to those who stand to profit from an Obama administration.

This is the time for the bigwigs in Illinois to profit. It will be play for pay on a scale hardly imaginable just a few years ago.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think he should pick Hillary. He should do it in the spirit of Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" where Lincoln chose his rivals for his cabinet. Invoking Lincoln should silence any concerns about weakness. The point is that the VP isn't all that important in governing, but we've really got to win this one!

By the way, shortstop, I didn't realize you were here in my fair city. Were you the one I saw at Reagan handing out flowers?

No, Pat, I was the one you saw at National being given bouquets of flowers amidst snapping flashes. Sure, it all gets monotonous, but it doesn't do to be a sourpuss about it.

People do travel in and out of cities without living there, you know. Say, have you ever considered getting out more yourself?

i still think that wes clark is the best choice. why is he off the radar?

Aww hell. You're just a visitor. I was gonna suggest we go up to Ben's Chili Bowl and get some chili and half smokes.

We can still go on my next trip if it coincides with your weekly hour out. Just be sure you get the cute orderly as your escort this time, and skip the half-smokes--too hard for you to eat with the cuffs on.

Now, you stop that, shorstop, or I'm not gonna pick up the check! We can get lunch. Then I'll show you the Capitol, if you want --- go on the House floor, etc. Hell, if you have an extra 3 to 5 minutes, I can even walk you through all of Sen. Obama's legislative accomplishments since he's been up here.

Slow down there, fella. Don't you recall how embarrassed you were last time when they wouldn't take your handwritten "money" and I had to spot you lunch? Remember how the Capitol police and HOB/SOB security guys told you the restraining order was in effect in perpetuity? You haven't thought this through.

Aww, you're joshin', but I'm serious. I'd love to take you to lunch and on a Capitol tour. If you don't have time for lunch, we can just meet up at the Capitol and I'll walk you through and point out the sights. We could meet on the Senate side near that bathroom that William Ayers and the Weather Underground bombed in the 70's.