I would imagine I am like a lot of voters -- what I knew of Joe Biden in the past came from sound bytes and newspaper stories. I knew who he was, but not much about what defined him.
When he was selected as the running mate last weekend, I thought it a reasonable choice, but maybe not the most exciting option that could have been chosen.
I would amend that opinion after last night.
(More below)
According to the talking heads, Biden wasn't even totally on top of his game last night (something about adapting to a new speechwriter as part of the campaign). Yet, seeing him and hearing from him at length, I have to say the gut reaction is that he is an ideal counterpart for Obama.
You can look at candidates on paper and try to formulate a ticket, but you won't know until it becomes reality what kind of emotional reaction the chemistry of such a pairing will generate. Biden as ying to Obama's yang is a very strong pairing that just seems like the kind of team you can easily envision leading the country. They are almost "West Wing" (the TV series) perfect.
They both are intelligent and thoughtful men. But while Obama's strength is his ability to inspire optimism by applying a logical, well-reasoned approach combined with an appeal to our intellect and decency, Biden obviously counters with a little fire in his belly and a heap of real-world smarts. Obama is an idealist, while Biden has a lot of hard knocks behind his realist approach. Obama speaks to our higher calling, and Biden last night gave us a first taste of how he is going to follow-up on that by supplying the passion and the real-world interpretation that makes Obama's approach resonate even with Americans who have given up on government being a home where our idealism can be safely invested. Idealism may be out for those folks, but Biden is going to make a persuasive case why they need to vote for Obama for a long list of real-life reasons.
They have arrived at the same world-view from different routes, and as such, have a chance to speak in a provocative way to Americans of all experiences and stations in life. There will still be some who won't embrace the message, but it won't be because they can't understand it because no one is speaking the same language that describes their current position.
I am psyched because I believe Biden is going to be a terrific running mate and a real difference maker during the remainder of this campaign. One thing that doesn't get the credit it should (although Biden made a big point of it in his speech last night) is Obama's ability to make hard decisions and be shown over time to have made a very wise choice.
I believe now the choice of Joe Biden as his VP is another piece of evidence that is going to ultimately end up being evaluated as another example of this kind of decision-making gift.
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(One additional note that doesn't exactly fit into the diary -- the other thing I loved last night was the look on Michelle Obama's face every time the cameras cut away to her. It was an excitement and a genuine kind of awe, like even though she knew what would happen, she could hardly believe she was there to witness it. There's no cynicism being displayed by the Obamas, and that's another refreshing aspect of this moment we have arrived at. I hope everyone who has received any of the trash e-mails with the various Obama smears had a chance to see Barack, Michelle and their children at the convention this week. It would be very difficult to hang onto your anxieties about this candidacy if you saw that family in action and sensed how important family really is to them. For that reason, my admiration has gone to even another level, because we all know that exposing your family to this process, its risks and its demands, is ultimately a great sacrifice being made for your country.)