biden2

Many friends, colleagues, and media members have already asked me to comment on Senator Barack Obama’s selection of Senator Joe Biden as vice president.  Below I’ve listed my reasons why Biden IS THE BEST vice presidential choice for Obama.  Of course, I’m somewhat biased toward Obama (and thus most of his decisions) but most of politics is about the “story” or “frame” and what sells. This sells.

1.  Joe Biden has a ton of experience: Biden was elected to the Senate in 1972 at the age of 29 (took office at 30, which is the minimum age for a Senator), and has never lost a Senate race.  Over his Senate career, he has chaired two powerful committees –Judiciary, and Senate Foreign Relations –in the Senate.

2.  Joe Biden has more experience than John McCain (and anyone McCain will choose as a VP):  John McCain was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, and elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986.  Thus, Biden has seen everything that McCain has done in his legislative career, and can really be an attack dog on him.  Moreover, although McCain is touted as a "National Security expert" he has never held position as chair of a related committee. He has chaired Indian Affairs and Commerce. Thus, Biden easily puts McCain in his place: "He's a good solider, but that doesn't make a good president."

3.  Joe Biden presents himself on par with Obama: Biden is considered a very good public speaker, funny, charismatic, and friendly.  Biden has a Bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Delaware, and a law degree from Syracuse University. He is also considered one of the better dressed Senators in Washington. Thus, the public presentation of Obama with Biden is one of two handsome, clean cut, professional, articulate, and smart leaders.

 4.  Biden actually “does” fit with Obama’s idea of change in the White House: Obama never said he was against government, or that he wanted to change the public bureacracy. He has said he wants to change the political culture and mindset in Washington.  Obama intends to use the vice president as a sounding board, and as a worker. Biden knows the government, knows foreign affairs, and has strong opinions on issues of governance. As Obama attempts to get things (legislation, executive acts, set agendas, and reform) done, he’ll need a government regular to who is willing to give good objective advice on both the practical politics, but also the spin politics.  Biden thus, fills a role model similar to that of Al Gore and Lyndon Johnson, more than the Richard Chaney, George H.W. Bush, or Dan Quayle models. The latter were more counter weights than sound board workers.

 5.  Biden gives the Democrats flexibility in the future: Biden is about 65 years of age (will be 66 in November), and after eight years (if Obama would win a second term), he’d be 73 and may or may not desire to be president.  If not, the Democratic Party has the ability to either prepare for a new candidate in 2016, or insert one as a vice president for the 2012 election. 

 6.  Biden fits the stereotype that many in the media tend to claim Obama has a problem with.  Biden is “white,” “catholic,” and grew up “middle class;” moreover, he was born in Scranton, PA.  Thus, he fits the media’s and the Clinton’s campaign message of being one of “us.”  By the way, I disagree with much of this argument that Obama has a problem with White Middle Class voters.  Definitely, Obama has more educated, and African American voters, but we shouldn’t forget about all the White Middle Class voters from states that Obama won: South Carolina, Utah, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Delaware, Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC (who are not a state), Vermont, North Carolina, Oregon, and Democrats abroad, not to mention Indiana and New Hampshire where Obama lost, but only by 3% of votes to Clinton (51% to 48% and 39% to 36% respectively).  Also, while Obama still got 45% of the vote in Pennsylvania, 44% of the vote in Ohio, 47% of the vote in Texas, and 43% of the vote in California, there is a continued belief (i.e., stereotype) that all of this vote was African Americans.  When the media read poll results they tend to focus too narrowly on the topline results and rarely dig into correlations and other inferential information, which we academics rely on.  Okay, I’m done with this one…for now.

7.  Biden will get some additional states: Biden will mostly help with DE, PA, NJ, and MD, but he will also help with voters in the battleground (closely contested) states like MI, IN, NY, AZ, TX, and some in the south, that want a change in administration but are “truly” (not racially) concerned about Obama’s lower experience in federal office.

8. Biden has a great bio:  He grew up with a stuttering impediment, but has become one of the best speakers in Congress. He lost his wife and young daughter in a car crash (killed by drunk driver) before he worked his first day in the Senate.  He was sworn in to office at the hospital bedside of his two young sons who were also in the accident.  In February 1988, he was hospitalized and underwent lifesaving surgery to correct two brain aneurysms; it took him about 7 months to recover, but he was still able to serve.  As mentioned earlier, he was elected Senator at the age of 29 (i.e., “eager to save the world, serve his community, and make a difference”).

9.  Like Obama, Biden is a family man: He has been married to his wife since 1977, they have a daughter together.  He has three children total, and five grandchildren.  These five grandchildren and Obama’s two daughters will make for an impressive picture of “change” and “hope” when the photographers come around.  His son Beau Biden is an Attorney General in the state of Delaware, and will be deployed to Iraq in October (this helps, trust me). 

10.  Biden can get women voters: Among his many accomplishments, Biden wrote and passed the first Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, and has been a strong advocate for the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

All in all, I could go on with more information, but I think this makes a strong case that he was the best. Some may say Clinton because of her 18,000,000 votes, but those votes never translated into a national campaign; only a late campaign that was partially anti-Obama.  For instance, the 18,000,000 voters were presumably eager to push her candidacy, but were not willing to donate $2 each to relieve her debt.  Nor were they willing to get out and caucus for her in states (with White Working Class voters) like Minnesota, Kansas, Colorado, Alaska, and Nebraska.  She did have some political weight, but it never translated into victory “gaps” (winning a state doesn’t matter more than winning by a big margin) when it really mattered. It’s doubtful she would have made for a good “brand” with Obama with anyone other than her most vehement supporters, some of whom still refuse to support Obama even with Clinton’s endorsement.  Some would have liked to have also seen Tm Kaine (too new, too likeable, and open to “inexperience” stereotypes), Bill Richardson (no broad national support, and also open to a different set of stereotypes), Evan Byeh (not charismatic, or bullish enough to be seen as protective of the office), or Katherine Sebelius (same limits as Kaine, but she’s more in line for a Cabinet position), Sam Nunn (he’s not been in combative politics for a good while, and is also in line for a cabinet position) or Chuck Hegel (just not the year of the Republicans, regardless of the “change” idea).  None of these candidates stands up to Biden’s complete package. 

Some might say Biden has some “baggage” (e.g., racially insensitive comments, talks too much, said critical things of Obama in the primary, or the plagiarism issues from his first presidential run).  But, the fact is that all the possible VPs have lots of baggage, but Biden is one who has been able to handle his and not take a hit at the State, Party, or Legislative level. He’s long serving, and can get things done, and WILL NOT overshadow Obama. He’ll be a loyal foot soldier (and I’m sure he’s said as much).

In any event, the deal is done, and we’ll so what happens. Hope this helps.  I apologize for any typos or grammatical errors, but this is just my early Saturday ramblings.

David C. Wilson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations

University of Delaware

Newark, DE