This seems not insignificant.
Via The Plank:
Well-connected Washington insider Steve Clemons has already reported that signs point to Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate. Now comes this tidbit, coutesy of the Washington Post's Shailagh Murray: Tony Blinken, the Biden foreign policy adviser who accompanied Obama on his overseas trip, left Washington to go on vacation late last week. Destination? Hawaii.
The timing of Blinken's trip isn't clear. Maybe he got there after Obama left. Or maybe he really was on vacation. (The article doesn't explore this possibility, although perhaps Murray was just being coy.) But keep in mind that Blinken is married to Evan Ryan, who was Biden's deputy campaign manager.
So, one of Biden's trusted advisors, someone who seems very close to his circle, accompanied Obama to Iraq last month. This same Biden insider happened to be in Hawaii last week when Obama was there.
This could all be wishful thinking on my part since I am hoping and praying that Biden is the choice. But I think it bodes really well that Obama sent him as a representative to Georgia. It shows that he holds him in very high regard. Biden is coming back today and will give a vice-presidential-looking press conference. Obama is apparently scheduled to be in Chicago on Wednesday. That is VERY odd for him. He usually campaigns during the week... So could the VP announcement be made on Wednesday?
I think it's looking good for Obama/Biden '08...
And here's my all-time favorite Joe Biden video.