Opinions

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008

Biden is strong choice

Despite Barack Obama's success at keeping his vice presidential pick a secret until -- almost -- the last minute, it is doubtful the choice surprised many people in either party.

The Obama campaign had arranged a complex plan to notify interested voters about his pick for vice president via a text message before the new ticket made its first appearance together on Saturday. But a leak in the early morning hours of Saturday spoiled the surprise, at least for those who weren't already in bed.

Nonetheless, the political tea-leaf readers already had settled on Biden as the choice. And while tapping the Delaware senator might have lacked drama, it was a solid pick, adding depth to the Obama campaign that could be crucial in what now is a deadlocked presidential race.

A CNN poll, the first taken after Biden had been added to the ticket, showed 54 percent of registered voters thought choosing him as a running mate was an excellent or good decision. Among Democrats, the number was 73 percent.

But, in a telling statistic, the number dropped to 59 percent when limited to supporters of Hillary Clinton. Obama still has some ruffled feathers to smooth during this week's convention -- and so does Clinton if she doesn't want to be blamed for dragging Obama down.

Perhaps Biden can help with that. He remained neutral, endorsing neither Obama nor Clinton after dropping out of the primary race himself. And he is on friendly terms with Clinton.

But more significantly, Biden helps fill in gaps in the Obama campaign. Where Obama has been viewed as inexperienced regarding foreign policy, Biden is substantive and well seasoned, a veteran of nearly 36 years in the Senate, including 33 years service on the Foreign Relations Committee, which he now chairs.

Biden also is a longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chaired from 1987 to 1994. As chair, he oversaw contentious hearings on the appointment of two Supreme Court justices, Robert Bork, who was not confirmed, and Clarence Thomas, who was.

Those who are kind to Biden call him loquacious. Those who are less so call him a gaffe machine. He notably referred to Obama early in the Democratic primary campaign as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."

But the same Biden who produced that cringe-inducing remark also is capable of effective attacks on opponents and of performing well in debates. Both talents should benefit the ticket, especially in blunting the tough attacks on Obama now being launched by the Republicans.

Finally, Biden brings a link to working class white voters. He was raised a Catholic in a middle-class household. He lived in Scranton, Pa., a city in a key battleground state, until he was 10, and even though he moved to Delaware, he is a familiar face in the Philadelphia media. And, as we will hear over and over again, he has commuted to Washington by train throughout his Senate career, returning to Delaware each night.

Biden isn't perfect. As noted, his tongue can get him into trouble. He is undeniably a Washington insider, a senator for more than 35 years, which may not be completely mesh with Obama's message of change. And he is not Hillary Clinton.

But it seems likely that he will bolster the ticket in a variety of ways and, as much as any vice presidential candidate can, help attract undecided voters.

John McCain may have a hard time finding Biden's equal on his short list of vice presidential contenders.