Time for some more Joe-Mentum!!!!

It's official. Obama has selected Delaware senator Joe Biden as his running mate.

I would call this an "interesting choice". This is the guy who when running against Obama for the Democratic nomination for president said that people were exited for Obama because he was the first "clean" African-American nominee.

Said Biden, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Odd, huh?

A few other Biden statements that should interest a few people:

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Reaffirmed That Obama Was Not Ready To Be Commander In Chief. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “You were asked is he ready. You said ‘I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.’” Sen. Biden: “I think that I stand by the statement.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 8/19/07)

Sen. Biden: “Having talking points on foreign policy doesn’t get you there.” (”Biden Lashes Out At Obama,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 8/2/07)

Sen. Biden Called Obama’s Pronouncement “Very Naive.” Sen. Biden: “It’s a well-intended notion he has, but it’s a very naive way of thinking how you’re going to conduct foreign policy. … [T]he way to deal with it is not to announce it, but to do it. The last thing you want to do is telegraph to the folks in Pakistan that we are about to violate - quote - ‘their sovereignty.’” (”Biden Lashes Out At Obama,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 8/2/07)

So what does Biden do for Obama?

Here are my positives:

* A Washington fixture - has been in the US Senate since we was 30 years old! He is now 65...
* International Foreign Policy Experience
* Good Attack Dog
* Older voters will like him

Here are my negatives:

* A Washington fixture
* Never has had executive experience (something Obama sorely lacks)
* Super gaffe-prone
* Doesn't help Obama win a state he wouldn't have won anyway
* The ticket will certainly sink like a stone now south of the Mason Dixon
* The Hillary voters aren't too happy now for sure
* Does this choice really get the base more exited?

Overall, I would rate Biden a C- choice.

I would have looked at California Senator Diane Feinstein. That would have been a killer
choice...would have neutralized the Hillary factor, would have helped Obama with Jewish voters (who are cold to Obama after the Jeremiah Wright stuff), is smart, well-connected, and could have helped too with older voters...