It's customary for a Trial Ballon to float up and either get shot down or continue an upward trajectory...
What has occurred in the last several days and especially this afternoon is nothing short of a Biden BLIMP... Conventional Wisdom is congeeling around Senator Joe Biden and now the CW is officially signing off on this decision as smart, safe, and effective. If you approve of Joe, vote in the poll below after rec'in this diary to let the Obama web folks know dKos now approves.
Up First: Blind sourced story via MSNBC's Howard Fineman
Within the last few hours I've spoken with two of the finalists for the role of Barack Obama's running-mate, and to two other sources who are close to the process.
He is a lively and feisty if unpredictable campaigner with working-class roots and a street-level feel for the hot spots of the globe — which he can use to go toe-to-toe with Sen. John McCain.
"If I had to bet my life on it, I'd bet it is Joe," said one of the other contenders.
Said another, "Barack is moving toward a seasoned Beltway type, and that probably means Biden."
TEA LEAF ALERT
One of the contenders also revealed a tidbit about timing. That person says Obama's camp wants to know how to get in touch on Thursday afternoon.
Fineman reveals that Clinton and Richardson have been vetted as well, though neither is expected to be in the final running... Wonder who the two finalists were in this story. Another interesting tidbit not sure everyone knows
Biden makes sense for another reason: his son Joseph "Beau" Biden III, the attorney general of Delaware, is a captain in the state's National Guard. He's deploying Iraq in September — and could prove to be an invaluable personal link to the situation on the ground.
Interesting take by Fineman there... the Press will cover that deployment naturally, no need to push from the campaign.
Next up, CW maven Halperin is out with a "memo from X" applauding the choice
"Biden is deeply thoughtful, serious, passionate, experienced, highly knowledgeable, and incredibly sensible and clear when talking about major issues. He has a vast and creative understanding of politics and policy, a sharp mind, and a sincere heart. He’s totally ready to be president. Together, Obama and Biden would represent the best of the last 30 years of the Democratic Party, and the hope for the next 30."
"Biden may be a ridiculous, overbearing blowhard, and he’ll doubtless make foolish blunders and imprudent comments if he’s on the ticket, but he’d still be an excellent campaigner, surrogate, and debater. He’d be thrilled at the prospect of being vice president (his own aspirations aside), and grateful and proud to have been chosen–he’d work hard to make Obama look good, and not deliberately outshine him–plus the chemistry will be appealing, and they genuinely like and respect each other, which will be winningly apparent."
"Also, America is no longer a place where citizens care about plagiarism or hair plugs. A Biden pick would immediately elevate Obama’s gravitas, give him a semblance of humility, delight the media, and reassure the nation that a grownup is involved. Democrats would be simultaneously relieved and apprehensive, but they’d be pleased with the choice overall. Plus, Biden is Catholic, is a Washington insider in a good way (a hardworking man of the people unchanged by three decades inside the Beltway), and has a tragic history with a happy ending."
Matt Drudge guesses Biden as a poll on his site shows Biden leading with 27% above the remaining named candidates.
Politico is reading tea leaves noting Biden's surge on Intrade and among Chicago betting pools.
The only threats I've seen to the Biden Blimp are this posting at Ambinder's Atlantic which highlight's Biden's focus on "experience"
And this bad ass catch from 1988
Nate Silver also has a good read on where Biden stands on polling... He has strength with Seniors and in PA specifically, but he's not electricity in a bottle (then again, why should he be... Cheney wasn't either).
I gotta tell you though, you can't exactly attack Obama for wanting to add experience to the ticket... If you combine Obama's Judgement with Biden's Experience, you just may have the path to victory paved in Poll Bumps and Happy Democrats/Bloggers alike...