Fineman: Barring Last-Minute Surprise Obama Is Likely To Pick Biden



Newsweek's Howard Fineman, as much of an American political wise man as anyone else, predicts Senator Joe Biden of Delaware -- the co-author of the Biden-Gelb-Galbraith Iraq Plan -- sill be Senator Barack Obama's pick as running mate. From MSNBC:

"Within the last few hours I've spoken with two of the finalists for the role of Barack Obama's running-mate, and to two other sources who are close to the process.

"My bottom line is this: Barring a big surprise or last-minute change of heart, the choice is likely to be Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

"He is a lively and feisty if unpredictable campaigner with working-class roots and a street-level feel for the hot spots of the globe — which he can use to go toe-to-toe with Sen. John McCain.

"'If I had to bet my life on it, I'd bet it is Joe,' said one of the other contenders."

Biden is a bit windy, yes, but probably anyone would be with that many years in the Senate. Senate rules allow members to speak at length with no time limit. Do that for 30 years and see what happens. He's not a bad guy, and brilliant on foreign policy (remeber the Biden/Gelb/Galbraith Plan?), but I wonder if that skill set is what Obama needs. Obama has all the Foreign policy kudos he needs. Elizabeth Bumiller reported in July that he has a retinue of 300 advisers on international issues. What Obama needs is someone who can talk earthy talk on pocketbook issues to the blue-collar working man, the bedrock base of the Democratic party. Obama as a personality type -- in the losing Democratic tradition of Adlai Stevenson, Humphreys, Gore, Dukakis, Kerry -- is considered intellectual, ethereal, aristocratic and not quite in touch with the day-to-day visceral concerns of the underclass. We cannot fail to note that the American narrative rejected all of those Democratic nominees for the Presidency.

Can Joe Biden do that? Can Joe Biden speak to the trucker struggling with the price of gas? Does Joe Biden know the cost of a six-pack? Does Joe Biden feel the pinch at the grocery store -- or does he at least feel the pinch on his constituents? I don't know.