A generation ago, a young presidential candidate named John F. Kennedy won the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. While considering Vice Presidential Candidates, one name stuck out: Lyndon B. Johnson. He opposed him in the primary. He had little in common, personally with JFK. Yet for the sake of the ticket, he chose him. Today, Barack Obama made a similar choice.
Today, Obama in enthusiastically choosing long time Democratic Senator Joe Biden, has rounded off his ticket in a way that was for the sake of the ticket, the Democratic Party and the country. Obama has countered his primary weakness: experience, with perhaps the most credible, experienced and decent choice remaining. Sure, we could have all hoped for a more "exciting" choice. (Can you say AL GORE...... a dream). But any of the unknown candidates (Bayh, Sibelius, Kaine) would have done nothing for the ticket, and the nuclear option of Clinton would have overshadowed his own presence at a time when he should be coming into his own. The story would have been all Clinton (Bill and Hill) all the time. With Biden you have a extremely qualified candidate. There is NO DOUBT that he could serve, if called upon. He is not one to overshadow, and IS one that is willing to fight.
It's refreshing to see here on DK, that despite the fact that Biden is NOT someone who would be considered a "progressive", at least not the modern version that we are so familar with. But historically, he is. And he gives Obama the ideal sidekick. Obama can keep on being the idealist, dreamy, CHANGE candidate, with Biden willing to fight and argue in the trenches, in the battleground states like PN, OH, MI and VA. The campaign can now continue to focus on the real issue: registration and turnout. Biden will go a long way to bringing "home" the Hilary dems, tempted by the "idea" of McCain, not really knowing what he really represents. Biden gives guys like my dad, a 77 year old retiree in Michigan, a reason to consider him.
Much as LBJ gave JFK a boost from the center/right wing of the Democratic Party, Biden can and will do the same.
Well done Obama Campaign!!! Lets keep up the good work.
BHO/JRB 2008!!!!!