Some perspective as Joe Biden discounts his VP prospects

It's stakeout time in the ever-intensifying Democratic veepstakes game. NBC reporter Mike Memoli related that as Sen. Joe Biden left his Delaware home this afternoon toting his golf bag, he was asked where he was going to be on Saturday.

The question was spurred by the news that Barack Obama plans a Saturday stop in Springfield, Ill. -- site of his presidential announcement speech ages ago and, presumably, the site of a joint appearance with his newly-minted vice presidential pick.

But Biden didn't rise to the top of the veep speculation list by falling for trick questions.

"Here," he replied to Memoli and other reporters, pointing down to his driveway.

And as he pulled out of his driveway (at the helm of his car), he said: "You guys have better things to do. I'm not the guy."

Maybe, maybe not; it's in his best interests to play it cool.

Regardless, among the reams of copy we've read and thousands of words we've heard reflecting on the running-mate derby -- both for Obama and John McCain -- the most sage could be found in the very last paragraph of a New York Times story today. It's a quote from Matt Bennett of Third Way, a Democratic Party advocacy group:

"Vice-presidential candidates can make a marginal difference, but they rarely matter in terms of winning a state or region — as Mike Dukakis and John Kerry found out. And a weak candidate doesn’t really drag the ticket into the drink -- as George H.W. Bush found out."

Dukakis, as is easily forgotten, picked Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen as his vice presidential nominee in 1988, and the ticket didn't come close to carrying the Lone Star State.

Same result with Kerry's choice four years ago, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina; the Democrats lost that state by about the same margin as they had in 2000.

And the elder Bush, of course, won the White House in '88 despite deciding, for reasons that still mystify, that Sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana was ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[BJ]

The Vice Presidency is not good enough for Hillary! Especially when she can win the general election on her own merit!

Many have already turned down this position because they don't want to be associated with a losing candidate. The only one who may accept is Bill "Judas" Richardson, due to the fact that it was for this very reason he turned his back on Bill and Hillary.

The Democratic Party always finds a way to shoot itself in the foot.

[VJ Machiavelli]

COUNTDOWN TO APPEASEMENT
The “APPEASEMENT KID” will be picking his ‘WITHDRAWAL PARTNER’ and they will then go on an ‘APPEASEMENT TOUR” to Denver.
They will fly ‘APPEASEMENT ONE” and ‘WITHDRAWAL TWO” be waiting for the VP with Nancy Pelosi as it’s pilot.
To save on fuel Nancy will use her “Hot Air” to fill it up.
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps. Keep your eye on the investigation of Schumers “BRAIN”Hank Morris and how he made 25 Million Dollars, Yes that is 25 Million Dollars. For more info “GOOGLE” Hank Morris.

[frieda]

If Obama goes with a Washington insider, what will happen to his "change" slogan??? and if he goes with Biden, then his first major decision will surly disappoints many.

[Connorchristian]

wasn't Dan Quayle from Arizona?

[dl]

Biden is the guy who has been on our television sets almost every Sunday for 8 years pleading with the American people for Bush to ChANGE his policies.

sorry but he has. No other POL is the face of challenging where we were going for the past 8 years more than Biden.

Loud ...boisterous...whther you like him or not...he is the guy who has been screaming "change direction" for 8 years to anyone who would listen.

[Indy]

If Biden doesn't get picked, Obama loses a slew of independents (including this one) who find him to lack gravitas when stacked next to McCain.