How great of a VP pick was Joe Biden?

[Wetzelbill]

I watched the online stream of Biden's events and also the youtube clips. My opinion is that while Biden worked under the radar, at least compared to the other candidates, he was extremely effective at connecting with voters for Obama.

I'd see him in those small towns, in swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Virginia. I know Biden gets ripped on for his verbosity and his slip ups, but he worked those rooms and those crowds skillfully. You could see how much they liked him as a person, and when they viewed him as one of them, a trusted source of information, he bragged up Obama and that resonated with those folks. He made them believe that help was coming, that you had two guys on their side.

And after the debate with Palin, the numbers in a CBS Poll came up and they were astounding. 98 percent saw him as knowledgable, 97 percent said he was prepared to be VP, and 91 percent thought he would be effective as president if called upon. People overwhelmingly liked Biden, I think that reassured even people who were a little skeptical about Barack. By contrast, nobody outside of the far right felt that Palin was anywhere near ready to be VP, president or had any knowledge of anything.

So he may not have gotten many headlines, but I think Joe Biden was a huge asset for Obama in this campaign. I think he helped win some of those swing states. He campaigned hard there and the people liked and respected him. My guess is that Biden honestly made a difference for Barack Obama in this race.

[SharonRB]

1. I love Joe

I had the pleasure of meeting him in September and what you say is so right. He really connected with the people.

[Wetzelbill]

2. I bet that was awesome

Biden has really won me over during the last few years. You almost can't help but like and appreciate him.

[galaxy21]

3. He was better than Bayh

That would have set up Bayh for 2016....so, yeah, Biden all the way.

[The True Adonis]

6. I told Joe when I met him,"I love you Joe" ....(Pics)

I met Joe when he came to Greensboro. When he came to me, I said, "I LOVE YOU JOE!" Then I called him "Joe The Vice-President", a take on Joe "the Plumber".

He laughed and said, or as my good friend Bob Kasay calls me, "Joe the Biden."

Truly awesome! He even signed a photo for me. My girlfriend hugged him. :)

Here are some pics.

http://s422.photobucket.com/albums/pp308/obama_greensboro_nc/JOE%20BIDEN%20Greensboro%20NC%20October%20oct%2027%2027th%202008/

[Wetzelbill]

12. awesome pics!

[bdamomma]

24. great pics.

I have such respect and admiration for him.

[jillan]

26. Wow - great pics.

I wanna hug from Joe Biden....not fair! :)

[JimWis]

4. Joe Biden and Barack Obama are on of the best teams I have

seen in a campaign in many years. Joe did an outstanding job. I think he reached a great many voters. And now he will be there to advise Barack on many things, especially foreign policy.

[Wetzelbill]

7. his FP skills definitely frees up Barack to

concentrate on the financial crisis and domestic issues. Plus you know Barack will put together a top notch team to work with Biden. Maybe Hagel, Richardson, Caroline Kennedy at the UN possibly, Susan Rice, Richard Holbrooke, Greg Craig. Plus some senators like Kerry will be involved. I'm confident in not just Obama but Biden and the people around him. Top notch minds.

[bdamomma]

25. competent and professional choices all the way.

[nickinSTL]

5. Biden really impressed me during the primaries...

The way he talked to people in his campaign stops, and his views on foreign policy really impressed me, to the point that I hoped he'd get the nom. So, when Obama picked him as VP, I was VERY happy - and I've had no reason to think anything but that it was a great pick.

[ReadTomPaine]

8. He was great for the campaign, but he will be even better for the office.

Joe has his foibles, but he's wanted this for a very long time and I'm sure has plenty of plans to utilize the power of his office. He was an impressive choice and the wisdom of putting him in this seat will be seen in the years to come.

[Wetzelbill]

14. This will be a great legacy for him

He deserves it.

[eissa]

9. He helped deliver this election

He brought us PA and OH, I'm convinced of it. A perfect balance for this ticket and a great reflection on our new President and his wise judgment.

[DesertFlower]

10. great. joe's been around for

a long time and i think he's liked by both republicans and democrats.

[codjh9]

11. I think he's great.

[Claire Beth]

13. Biden was a smart, good choice.

[GardeningGal]

15. Best choice he could have made in my book.

Loved it when he picked Biden. It told me he was serious about helping the middle class and that he wanted someone strong next to him.

The judgment of the two candidates was really amplified this year by their respective vice presidential picks.

[eshfemme]

16. He's gonna be an awesome VP!

Just like Obama, he's just such a good guy that you can't help but love.

[dailykoff]

17. Huge asset, agree. On a scale of 1-10,

a ten. His first and so far his best pick.

[Left Is Write]

18. I think he was and is an excellent choice.

[underpants]

19. Joe's a "made guy" in DC. He calmed down the crowd inside the castle walls

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/134

The other event that weekend was the selection of Biden. This was what may have turned it especially with the DC crowd. Biden is a "made guy". He has allegiances, he has killed for them (war vote), he can be trusted. The new guy had a sponsor, one of their own. Palin on the other hand was rogue-almost nothing to link her to the crowd inside the castle walls if you will. The DC crowd didn't come to McCain's rescue and the media simply couldn't ignore the thunderously bad mistakes of the campaign anymore. The DC crowd had convinced itself that this guy, Obama, was okay and in fact it was okay to like him.

[RayOfHope]

20. Love me some Joe n/t

[Raine]

21. He was aTERRIFIC pick! nt

[bdamomma]

22. the best, plus he knows geography!!!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

23. He was a great pick! He was great in the campaign and he'll be even better in office. nt

[Laurab]

27. I love Biden and when Obama chose him

he chose, IMO, the absolute best person he could. You're right about him being under the radar, but when I saw him with people, he was so natural, down to earth, and he DID connect. I believe the choice of Biden helped Obama a great deal, and I believe they will make an excellent team. It was actually my dream ticket, so I was thrilled when Obama made his choice.

Once Obama chose Joe, I felt sure we could do it, and we DID!

[rosesareredroses]

34. i concur. your post sums up my feelings. it was a beautiful ticket. the best ever. (eom)

[Omnibus]

28. I have a right-wing friend...

...he hates both Clintons, Gore, Kerry, Obama...

...but he likes Joe Biden. He's not sure why, either.


Joe appeals to people because he's a very REAL person. One house, in the state he represents, that he goes home to every night. One of the financially poorest senators out there, after he's been there for 30 years. 30 years! If you're not rich after 30 years in the Senate, it's because you're not trying to get rich.

Joe is a sincere, honest man, and it comes across when he speaks.

[Wetzelbill]

39. That's all right on

I was a tough sell for him. I was not happy with Biden's Irag War vote, I remembered his failed bid and how it ended in 1988 in embarrassment. (I was still 13 at the time but I recall it) But after a few years of listening to Biden, he won me over. His intellect, his background. I still recoil at a few things like the vote for the Bankruptcy Bill, but then he makes it up by having things like writing the Violence Against Women Act in his accomplishments. He's all around a solid guy.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

44. On the rich part of things...

A Senator makes about $150k per year, and his wife is a teacher, so they probably barely crack $200k/year. It might sound like a boatload, but around here, that's chump change. Especially if you're taking Amtrak home every night and have to regularly buy quality suits and such. That adds up rather quickly. No one becomes a Senator to get rich - they're usually rich before they get there or cash in once they leave.

[Cha]

29. Joe is perfect for VP and

I have nothing negative to say about him. He has worked under the radar in this election because I think the corporatemedia was scared of him..too bad we won anyway and now maybe we'll get to see and hear more from him.

And, his birthday is Nov 20th right after Dean's on the 17th.

[Wetzelbill]

40. and both mine and JFK Jr's are on the 25th

Not bad? :)

[Cha]

56. You and JFK are

Sags and Biden and Dean are Scorpios:)

[Wetzelbill]

59. Yup. :)

[ZombieNixon]

30. Choosing Biden was a decision that sent a very clear message.

Obama chose his running mate with governing in mind. Not the election, but the aftermath. The fact that Joe's a pretty great campaigner was a bonus. ;) The choice of Joe Biden showed, quite definitively, IMO, that Barack was serious about the direction of the country, and took the responsibility of governance so. This was underscored when McCain picked Palin a week later, which was a pure Hail Mary to get some votes.

[Wetzelbill]

48. I was both amazed and appalled at how unserious of a candidate

McCain was. For all my disagreements with the man, I always thought better of him than that.

[lutefisk]

31. Biden and Obama each earned my respect and trust through their actions and words

I didn't know or care much about either of these men before I started listening to them speak and watching the primary debates. I think I can judge character, intelligence, and ability pretty well- and these two just impress the hell out of me. What a great pair!

[democracy1st]

32. I love Joe Biden and Jill Biden is oh so beautiful!!

[lutefisk]

33. It's kind of funny how so often nice people just look, well, "nice"...n/t

[onager]

35. Stark post from another board showing how great...

Sorry, I just don't remember where I saw this. I looked at so many political blogs/boards before E-Day. Erm. I mean "O-Day." :-)

Anyway, at one site a poster claiming to be an Independent voter starkly summed up one of his reasons for voting Obama:

1. We have to face the unpleasant fact that McCain might die in office, given his age and health.
2. We also have to face the unpleasant fact that Obama, the first black President, might be the victim of an assassination attempt.
3. If the worst happens with Obama in office, he is succeeded by Joe Biden--a Dem, yes, but an experienced, moderate and very competent politician.
4. If the worst happens with McCain...we get President Sarah Palin.

The poster didn't think that was much of a contest.

[Steely_Dan]

36. Joe Biden was my first pick...

I was deeply disappointed when he pulled out. I am now an avid supporter of Obama. I could not have said that just a few short months ago.

Joe Biden is genuine...a real statesman who has always put our country first. He has carried the Dem banner for a very long time and has represented the better angels in all of us.

He is second to last on the senatorial wealth list...he was never in it for the money.
His son is serving in Iraq
He takes a train home every night to be with his family.
He had to take a second out on his home to send his kids to college.


He once said (during the primaries), that some things are worth losing an election over. He is true to his convictions.

I was never that bothered by Joe's verbosity and the rare gaff. For me, it was always a sign of someone willing to speak his mind regardless of the political consequences. You may not always agree with him and you may cringe at some of his statements...but there is little doubt it reflected a rare honesty that has been missing in the political arena for a very long time.

Joe Biden (in my humble opinion) would have been one of the great ones...one for the ages.

-P

[dbmk]

37. I was thinking that yesterday.

That Biden was being overlooked in the post election celebrations.

Seems to me he did a hell of a job. He had the President elects (yeah, I like to use that term whenever I can :) ) back all the way.
Not so much what was happening on the other side.

And it seems to me that there would not be many other politicians at that level, that would deserve more to ride this ticket into the history books.

[H2O Man]

38. Very great.

I was happy when he picked Biden. I was even happier Tuesday night.

[youthere]

41. I adore Joe...but I will always be just a touch sad...

that he wasn't at the top of the ticket. Much as I love Obama, Biden was my first choice for POTUS.

[murbley40]

51. I am right there with you.

[No Elephants]

42. His gaffes are overblown. One film clip showed him stumble over a word, probably only because he

was tired. He stammered on one word and the commentary was that he was famous for his gaffes. That is not what a gaffe is.

[Wetzelbill]

49. yes that's why I said "slip up"

[Terran]

53. Way, way overblown

Especially the "Obama will be tested" statement. The news media universally failed to put that one in proper context.

[Wetzelbill]

60. oh that one just made me sick

How shallow and disgusting.

[mmonk]

43. Biden was the best pick IMO.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

45. The exact opposite of the Palin pick.

Literally.

[Wetzelbill]

50. I like how Biden always uses that word

"Literally." My dad does too. :)

[Eurobabe]

46. Joe was my first choice in the primaries

Obama was my second. I can't wait to see how these guys govern together.

The best part of this election is that I got BOTH Barack AND Joe!! :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

47. Joe was always the coolest! I loved the way he put away the moronic anchor woman.

seeming more bemused at her assininity than angry.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

52. More use for running the country than for winning elections, I suspect.

I don't imagine many people voted for Obama/Biden because of Biden. On the other hand, very few will have refrained from doing so because of him, either. I suspect he was picked to be an inoffensive, uncontroversial, safe pair of hands, which he did fine.

On the other hand, what he clearly does have is experience - I suspect that he'll be a lot of help when it comes to actually governing.

Palin, incidentally, was the exact opposite - clearly picked with winning the election in mind, rather than with what would happen afterwards.

[hogwyld]

54. I love Joe! Foibles and all!

I also appreciate that the Obamas and the Bidens seem to actually like each other! My impression is that they consider themselves one big family.

[Jennicut]

55. I was for Obama the whole time in the primaries but when he chose Joe as VP

I started to learn more about him and he is a great guy. Real, down to earth, not looking to cash in on his "connections" like lots of other long time politicians are. He brought lots of experience to the ticket and actually worked out at the perfect pick because he was born in PA and PA ended up to be a real important part of the puzzle and because McLame chose Palin. The contrast to Palin was just amazing. It only served to make her look even more not ready to be VP because Joe was so experienced. Plus, Joe will help Barack govern by being a confidante and advisor and someone who will give it to him straight without any agenda. He is also strangeley Dick Cheney's doppleganger. Experience and no thought of trying to run for president in 8 years but not evil like Cheney. He is what Cheney should have been for Shrub.

[raventattoo]

57. He will be fantastic at LEADING THE SENATE!

:rofl: :rofl:

But seriously, I was a Biden supporter in the early primaries and had wanted to get to vote for him in Texas.

Well, I finally did get to vote for him and could not be happier with the outcome!

[kwolf68]

58. Joe = Epic Succeed

The ONLY THING I am disturbed about is that he was forced to 'debate' someone so beneath him that is seemed to sully our Democratic process. Thanks McCain and your idiot handlers...Biden should have been forced to debate someone with competent intellect and skill, not a vacuous blow up doll.