so I don't know if anyone cares...but I personally am a little bummed by this choice. I think the full picture won't emerge until after we find out who big John chooses to run with him...but I think Biden has a lot of baggage that rides with him...

I come from a very conservative family. They HATE Joe Biden...and I think there's a lot of people who agree with that sentiment on the Right...I just hope that the people supporting Obama/Biden are as proactive about actually voting as I KNOW the Evangelical and Radical Right are...

anyone else bummed about Joe B.? or does it really not matter? I just have to pray that McCain makes a similar decision and chooses someone who polarizes the Left as much as Biden does the Right.

I think you and I are on the same wavelength... Vote people, vote!

What is Biden's baggage?

hmmmm, what an odd choice

Yeah, didn't see this coming.

He was the #1 prediction on "conservative" talk radio for the past 2 weeks. Seems like a bad choice to me, but I still think he'll take it.

Really? They've been talking about Biden for at least 3 weeks. I can seriously only think of a handful of people who could fit the criteria for vp.

he has the "stigma" of liberalism to anyone outside of the Democrat's inner clique. I don't feel that way, I just know a lot of Conservatives who do...whether he deserves it or not. To many of us, liberalism isn't a bad word - but to the people I am talking about, it's a cancer.

also, Biden's got a bit of diarhea of the mouth. the comments about Obama earlier this year aside...he's had quite a few gaffs over the years...and he's got a bit of a temper.

again, I don't think any of this is a big deal, and I'm supporting Obama come hell or high water...I just don't think this is the best choice considering the wall that has to be scaled. I don't think he's likeable enough to the dumb people who base their vote on that, and as sad as it is...today's elections are won when people like the candidate enough to take the time to go vote.

i'm pretty sure i'm voting obama, regardless....

unless mojo nixon is running again.

True about the diarrhea mouth but Biden's got 36 years experience and he's pretty solid on foreign affairs which helps Obama tremendously. (since a lot of people think obama's lack of experience hurts him)

Who do you think would have been a better choice?

I don't agree with this 100% by any means, but a bunch of people here in NYC were thinking he may choose Bloomberg...seemed like an interesting idea, if a dangerous one. Bloomberg seemed open to the idea...

if he hadn't been exposed as a fuck-up right now, I wouldn't have minded John Edwards.

Clinton would have been a tough one to announce, but better than Biden vote-wise.

(I understand him going with experience on this one...but he could also have gone with a "cool guy" (or gal) and dealt with the experience issue in his cabinet. I for one am not worried at all about Obama's "lack" of experience. The dude in office right now destroyed every business he had run before becoming president, then proceeded to destroy the country...what experience did he have?!?

Good points. Bloomberg would have been interesting.

Edwards to me is always a little swarmy and to me he kind of was a remnant of Kerry's failed campaign.

But there is no way Obama would have picked Clinton. If she wouldn't have gotten negative then maybe but she flat out said McCain is stronger in foreign affairs and war strategy and talked to much about his inexperience.
It wouldn't gel.

I guess the thing about Biden is that BECAUSE he's strong in certain areas it helps Obama. But Biden has faults, which imo is good because he doesn't come off has too strong to where he make Obama look weak.

It's less than 24 hours so its hard to see how it will play out but:

Pro:
Years of foreign policy experience
Appeals to blue collar voters and labor leaders
Ties to Pennsylvania
Catholic
Owns one house (yeah yeah)

Most of all, a pitbull that will tear into the GOP and go after their foreign policy:

Example, Biden destroys Giuliani while walking to his car:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Y8AFct ... _for_biden

Clinton would have been too polarizing and no one else really stood out to me except maybe Clark who didn't make the short list.

Finally, you'll never win over any of the ultra conservatives or the 25 percenters, they're a lost cause.

I couldn't agree more.

I have no problem with the choice of Biden. I think he will play very well with the middle of the road folks and his extensive political experience might help soothe the nerves of those hesitant to cast their vote for a young black man.

Don't forget the plagiarizing incident in 1987.

With rightwing radio, FOX News and the blogosphere, I don't think there will be much chance of that happening.

yes, this was the incident that I was thinking of...

I like Bloomberg...