"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." - Senator Joe Biden (D-Hatchetville)
Obama's candidate for VP was announced last night: Biden. There were many who thought Obama would end up choosing an old salt of Washington to be his running mate. But, as with all of the other candidates on the short list du jour, I could not muster any excitement over the prospect of Joe Biden as the running-mate. It is a damning statement about the Democratic party today, that few within its ranks outside Barack Obama can generate true national excitement.
But that's the point. Obama has generated so much excitement that the new Republican swift-boat narrative has emerged: he's too exciting, too much of a celebrity. McCain and Co. have successfully used this strength as an entry point for their attack, turning it into the Achilles Heal. The Obama campaign is certainly not lacking for excitement. I would say the biggest weakness of Obama, and the Democratic party, has been an inability to play offense well. It's one thing to attack, but attacking effectively is a completely different matter. Your swings have to hit.
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