We all know Biden is a great debater, has tons of foreign policy experience, has a great story and family and helps with working class Catholics in PA, OH and MI. But what does all this really mean?
TEN REASONS BIDEN IS A GREAT PICK (THAT YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF)
1. Biden's Foreign Rolodex Prevents Bushco October Surprise Mischief
We all know Nixon sabotaged peace in Vietnam prior to the 1968 election. In 1980,Reagan, through GHWBush, communicated to the Iranians not to release the hostages before the election. Biden is the one guy who knows enough foreign leaders to have a back-channel on any conflict. Not only can he ensure ObamaCo looks real smart, if there's any mischief he's in a position to either capitalize on it or expose it. And the McCain people know it.
More in extended...
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2. Biden's Two Negatives: What Happened in 1987 and His Ties to the Banking Industry
I refer to, of course, Biden's minor plagiarism flap that ended his 1987-88 run for President, and his ties to all those DE based credit card companies. Does John McCain really want to 1) get into a discussion about how things were going for HIM in 1987 (Keating 5) or 2) critique someone being too close to the banking industry (Keating 5)?
3. Biden Really Was the Son of Coal Miners
And even though he's been in the Senate longer than John McCain, he knows how many houses he has. As we saw, he even hauls his own stuff to the dump.
4. Biden Lost His First Wife in a Car Accident
McCain's first wife was in a car accident while he was POW, and when he returned he left her for Cindy due to her injuries. Biden didn't have a choice.
5. "My Son Is In Iraq and Let Me Tell You What He Is Seeing"...
Beau Biden is NOT an infantryman. But as part of the JAG corps, and as DE's Attny General, he will have a great deal of credibility as he informs his dad. (PS And I'd bet Ruth Ann Minner selects Beau for his dad's Senate seat, but that's another post).
6. He's the Bizarro Cheney
Bizarro Superman is just as powerful as Superman, he's just bad instead of good. Everything Dick Cheney is Biden is the opposite: Cheney is gruff, Biden is nice; Cheney is irritable (remember "go fuck yourself"), Biden is congenial; Cheney is in hiding most of the time, the Obama camp will probably want Biden to hide more. People tolerated Cheney despite his lack of charisma because he helped Bush get the job done. They'll like Biden. As George Costanza says: stick to the opposite.
7. Jill Biden is a teacher.
If the Veep wives get together, and its Mrs. Mittens, Jill's got class all over her (and, a JOB!) Contrast Jill Biden (who has a JOB) and Michelle Obama (who has a JOB) with socialite Cindy McCain and Mrs. Mittens.
8. The Judciary Committee
As chairman of the Judiciary Committee and veteran of numerous SCOTUS fights, Biden is going to be a huge asset in giving Obama the freedom to truly nominate progressives to the court. We're not going to be seeing compromise picks if Biden is running the show. And a bonus: FISA point man.
9. All Those Morning Show Appearances Paid Off
Biden's omnipresence on TV Sunday mornings means he's incredibly familiar to the American people. Its hard to say Obama is a scary guy when a solid guy that you've been watching for 20-30 years like Biden is vouching for him.
10. "You're No Jack Kennedy"
Unless McCain picks Dick Lugar, and he can't go old, whoever Biden debates is gonna look like a pipsqueak. And he's a good enough debater he'll make sure that happens.
And a snark bonus... Delaware's 3 Electoral Votes... IN THE BAG!