Biden and Edwards bumped into each other today in SC on the campaign trail

[jillan]

Senator Joseph Biden and John Edwards crossed paths in Waterfront Park today. (Photo: Alice Keeney/Associated Press)CHARLESTON, S.C. – There was a collision here today, right downtown in Waterfront Park, when John Edwards and Joe Biden turned up at the same photo opportunity hours before tonight’s Democratic presidential debate.
Shortly after noon, with a toasting sun overhead, Mr. Edwards’s campaign alerted television crews that he would be taking his two young children, Jack and Emma Claire, for a quick splash in a giant water fountain.
One block away, Mr. Biden stepped off a street car plastered with his red, white and blue campaign signs. He began working his way through storefronts along Vendue Range, heading directly toward Waterfront Park. His aides beamed as they looked at a small bank of TV cameras, until finally realizing they were standing by for Mr. Edwards.

So Mr. Biden’s worried aides sussed out what happened and – trying to avoid the political equivalent of bumper cars – raced down the street to where Mr. Biden was energetically shaking hands. As they tried to warn him, Mr. Biden’s aides realized that the candidate was surrounded by people. (Bloggers? On-lookers? Or spies from rival campaigns, recording everything that was being said?)
“Senator Edwards,” one aide said, putting his finger over his lips to suggest that Mr. Biden not continue the conversation. Mr. Biden made his way up to the fountain where all the action was. “What should we do?” he asked. “Should we say hello to John Edwards?” His question unanswered, Mr. Biden spent the next few minutes shaking hands and buying Italian Ice for himself and four children.
Finally, he went over to where Mr. Edwards was standing. By this time, Mr. Edwards was signing a few autographs, taking a break from tossing a football into the water with Jack. For a long, uncomfortable moment, Mr. Edwards didn’t acknowledge Mr. Biden as he signed autographs. Finally, Mr. Biden said: “John, I need one too!”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/a-pre-debate-dust-up/#comment-148443

[saltpoint]

1. Dear Future History:

I like these two gifted, qualified men in the above photograph.

And I want their hearts and minds in influential roles in our next government.

Please do what you can to make that happen.

Love,

Old Crusoe

[jillan]

2. You know they would be a great team

Biden on foreign relations
Edwards on domestic issues.

But which one would take 2nd place?

Can't see either...
Edwards has been there.
I don't know about Biden. If he can't break through, maybe he would think about it.

They would be an interesting ticket tho.
Neither of them are afraid to say what is on their minds.

[saltpoint]

3. You're right -- it's a big concentration of talent with those two.

I'd be at home with either in the White House -- or both.

Or, if another of our folks wins the nomination in Denver, I'd hope to have Joe Biden as our Secretary of State and maybe John Edwards as Attorney General.

I'd feel a whole lot better about my country and my planet if gifted people were in charge.

Great post, by the way. And a sensational photograph. Thanks for both.

[saltpoint]

4. I'm recommending this post not only on its merits, which are

considerable, but also because in the photograph the folks with the cameras seem to be picking up on the charged, electrical atmosphere this meeting generated.

I'm getting it through the flat screen of a computer. How much better it would have been to have watched and felt it in person.

[jillan]

5. I like the way their eyes are locked into each others.

[saltpoint]

6. Yes. They could do a lot of good for our government. Especially our

reputation in the world, which has been so damaged by the Bush administration.