Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
I'm kind of mystified on this choice as well. Biden is not remotely palatable in the South and Midwest, so there is not even a faux-balancing of the ticket ala Kerry-Edwards or Gore-Lieberman. On guns, Biden is as bad as Obama with a similar voting record.
And to top it all off, Biden has endorsed McCain in the past, has vocally criticized his running mate and has appeared with McCain on hundreds of morning talk shows from 2002-2006 discussing Iraq policy and was initially supportive of McCain's policy (though that faded towards 2006 as it became apparent Biden would make a run for the nomination)
I can't imagine what the Obama camp was thinking. On the one hand, I guess Biden gives Obama some credibility on Iraq since he was basically supporting the same policy as McCain; but what are you going to do when the Republicans start running the news clips of your VP candidate talking about what a great guy your opponent is and how you like his Iraq policy?
And to top it all off, Biden has endorsed McCain in the past, has vocally criticized his running mate and has appeared with McCain on hundreds of morning talk shows from 2002-2006 discussing Iraq policy and was initially supportive of McCain's policy (though that faded towards 2006 as it became apparent Biden would make a run for the nomination)
I can't imagine what the Obama camp was thinking. On the one hand, I guess Biden gives Obama some credibility on Iraq since he was basically supporting the same policy as McCain; but what are you going to do when the Republicans start running the news clips of your VP candidate talking about what a great guy your opponent is and how you like his Iraq policy?