In a peacetime election, Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden would make perfect sense. Biden is a national security heavyweight and his presence on the ticket would reassure voters than an Obama administration would be up to speed on foreign policy rather as Cheney did for Bush in 2000. But with America still engaged in two wars, the pick is risky.and he points out that with the selection one of his arguments with McCain will vanish
When McCain raises the question of Obama’s readiness to lead, Obama could have shot back saying: ‘I got Iraq right, you didn’t. The people who got the biggest foreign policy decision of the post Cold War wrong, they’re the people who aren’t qualified to be president.’ The presence of Biden—who voted for the war—on the ticket takes such an attack off the table.
On the other side of the pond the choice has been readily examined.The New York Times calls it a very personal decision
people involved in the process said it was not just foreign policy that tilted the balance. They said Mr. Obama’s decision had as much to do with Mr. Biden’s appeal among white working-class voters and compelling personal story, and his conclusion that the Delaware senator was “a worker.”
The Washington Post says that
Once again, Biden had resurrected a career that appeared destined for decline.
Nearly eight months ago, Biden withdrew from the 2008 presidential race after winning less than 1 percent of the delegates in Iowa's Democratic caucuses. It was an ignoble failure for one of the most prominent and senior members of the U.S. Senate, and friends worried openly about Biden's psyche. Biden worried only about what he would do next
The LA times calls it a demographic calculation too
it was clear Saturday that Biden's potential appeal to white, blue-collar Democrats -- those who did not support Obama during the primaries and remained wary of his candidacy -- was also important in Obama's selection of the Delaware senator.
We wait for the opinion polls,the latest taken by the Washington Post just before the announcement puts Obama six points ahead in the race using registered voters and 4 points amongst those likely to vote.Thus little movement since the last test in July.
