Joe Biden is no Barack Obama on the rubber chicken circuit

Clearly, Barack Obama didn't pick Joe Biden because of his fundraising prowe$$.

Compared to Obama -- and nearly every other presidential candidate in 2008 -- Biden was a piker.

Through Dec. 31, Biden had reported raising $8.2 million in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama's total at that point: $102 million.

Biden's candidacy ended abruptly after the Iowa caucuses in early January. After he finished his bookkeeping for the failed campaign, his fundraising from donors totaled about $9.9 million. Obama, in his continuing quest for the White House, has raised 39 times that much.

Biden added to his total by transferring money from his Senate account and accepting $2 million in federal matching funds.

Throughout his lengthy political career, Biden -- like Obama -- has drawn heavily from trial lawyers.

The nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics found that the law firm headed by Texas trial attorney Fred Baron has contributed $108,000 to Biden over the years. Baron, who in the '08 campaign was John Edwards’ national finance committee chairman, was in the....

Nancy Pelosi gives a heads up: Dems are in attack mode next week

DENVER -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, moonlighting as co-chair of the Democratic National Convention, dropped a big hint this afternoon that once speakers take the stage when the gathering formally opens Monday, an arsenal of slings and arrows will be directed at Republicans -- unlike four years ago.

At the conclave in Boston that John Kerry and his aides orchestrated, word went out that orators were to low-key potshots at President Bush and the GOP. The plan was to accentuate the positive about Kerry -- especially his military service in Vietnam.

Much to Kerry's surprise, of course, the Swift Boat ad campaign turned that particular into a negative for him. And in general, many Democrats now see the tone adopted for the 2004 convention as flawed.

With that in mind, Pelosi was asked during a luncheon with reporters whether this year's gathering of the Democratic tribe was going to have a harder-edge

Pelosi, without directly trashing the Kerry convention planners, left no doubt she agreed with the criticism of them. If she had had her druthers, she said, the confab would have been "about the Iraq war, not the Vietnam war."

She then offered the type of scathing assessment of Bush's tenure in the White House likely to be echoed again and again in the days ahead: "There isn't an area of public policy that this administration hasn't failed in."

So there.

On another convention-related note, Pelosi held out the possibility that Sen. Ted Kennedy -- suffering from brain cancer and the subject of a Monday night tribute -- might appear in person.

She said she had talked with him recently and that "he sounded great. ... He sounded like a person who was going to be at this convention."

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

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Joe Biden's crack about wife Jill? No problem, Nancy Pelosi says

DENVER -- So which stumble at today's Democratic lovefest in Springfield, Ill., will live on the longest -- Barack Obama introducing his running mate pick as "the next president," or the Joe Biden crack about his wife that has not been universally well received?

If it's the latter, at least Biden gets a pass on it from the highest-ranking woman in the history of U.S. politics -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi had barely arrived in Denver this afternoon before she was holding court at a small luncheon with the media at the city's historic Brown Palace Hotel.

As the session wrapped up, and she was offering the expected prediction that the about-to-begin Democratic National Convention would "achieve its purpose" of sealing any overt cracks in party unity, a pesky reporter asked if Biden's attempt at humor about his mate might exacerbate efforts to get all of Hillary Clinton's hard-core backers on the bandwagon.

Here's what Biden had said in his debut as the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee:

"Ladies and gentlemen, my wife Jill, who you'll meet soon, is drop dead gorgeous. My wife Jill, who you'll meet soon, she also has her doctorate degree, which is a problem. But all kidding aside ..."

Pelosi, who had spent much of the lunch depicting an America in dire straits after eight years of a Republican administration, didn't miss a beat: "Lighten up," she said. "We've got a planet to save."

She added that if Biden found his wife beautiful, "That's A-OK."

But what about the PhD part of Biden's comment? That's what sparked reaction in the blogosphere, including an item by Adele Stan on Huffington Post headlined: "Careful Joe! 'Smart Women" Jokes a Dicey Game."

Of the "gorgeous" remark, Stan opined: "Nothing wrong with that. Who wouldn't want to be described as such by his or her partner?"

But of the doctorate addendum, she wrote: "It was obviously a failed attempt at humor. Or perhaps I'm just a humorless feminist. Either way, one can only hope this isn't a harbinger of gaffes to come."

Clinton's name came up a couple of times at the Pelosi gathering. The speaker was asked... 

Just in: Obama picks Joe Biden as VP, text msg reveals

In case you're one of the thousands of people interested in the Barack Obama Democratic presidential campaign who signed up to be the first to learn his vice presidential pick via high-tech e-mail and text message, ours finally arrived.

It's Joe Biden, the senator from Delaware who's held that seat since Obama was 11 years old.

The news came about 15 hours after two unidentified Democratic sources, eager to steal their new party leader's publicity thunder and earn owsies from some media folks, confirmed Biden's pick to some reporters.

You can vote right here on whether you approve of the pick.

We'll let you know if the e-mail version ever shows up. Other than that, the high-tech announcement plan worked pretty well. But it'll probably be the same guy in the e-mail anyway.

-- Andrew Malcolm

P.S.

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Photo credit: Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images

Ticket Notice: Sunday guests--Giuliani, Sebelius, Kaine

ABC This Week: David Axelrod (chief strategist, Obama campaign); former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (keynote speaker, Republican National Convention); round table with ABC News’ Mark Halperin, Donna Brazile, Cokie Roberts and George Will.

CBS Face the Nation: Govs. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kansas/co-chair, Democratic National Convention) and Ed Rendell (D-Pa.); Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.); Dan Balz of the Washington Post.

CNN Late Edition: Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.),  Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Terry McAuliffe (former chairman, Hillary Clinton campaign).

Fox News Sunday: Govs. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Bill Ritter (D-Colo.); Robert Gibbs (senior advisor, Obama campaign).

NBC Meet the Press: Caroline Kennedy (co-chair, Obama's vice presidential search committee); Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco); round table with Gwen Ifill of PBS, Jon Meacham of Newsweek and Chuck Todd of NBC News.

And just a reminder that you can join the growing throngs preparing for the rest of this political season and beyond by having every Ticket item -- plus special offline Tweets from The Ticket's writers starting with the two party's conventions -- sent directly to your cellphone.

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-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Office of the Kansas Governor

Joe Biden got the VP call Thursday night (and never spilled the beans)

DENVER -- Barack Obama's actual VP offer to Joe Biden came in a telephone call Thursday night, according to Linda Douglass, the former-newswoman-turned-campaign-aide for the (almost) official Democratic presidential nominee.

Douglass, chatting with reporters on Obama’s campaign plane shortly before its arrival in Springfield, Ill., for the big photo-op pairing of the new ticket -- unfortunately provided no other tidbits, The Times' Michael Finnegan relates.

“We’re not going to get bogged down in the process of the selection,”  she said, leaving us to wonder, at least for now, how quickly Biden said yes or whether -- indulging himself -- the sometimes off-message Biden said asked something like. "What took you so long, young man?"

Speaking of off-message, the various branches of the Republican campaign apparatus have been anything but in responding to Biden's selection.

As The Ticket noted this morning, John McCain's media shop almost instantly unveiled an ad featuring a soundbite Biden provided last year, during the heat of the battle for the Democratic presidential nod, that scoffs at Obama's foreign policy credentials.

Today, Alex Conant of the Republican National Committee sent off one of his patented sharp-edged e-mails headlined thusly: "OBAMA'S OFF-MESSAGE MAN ... Is Obama Ready To Be President? Biden Says No."

The lengthy (and we do mean lengthy) memo includes sections (complete with citations) on differences between Obama and Biden on foreign policy, on regulating lobbyists and on "post-partisan politics" (not exactly a red-meat issue). For good measure, it adds they are "on message" when it comes to being "against energy solutions and for higher taxes."

Now comes a fundraising pitch from the McCain campaign asserting that Obama's "choice in a running mate once again brings up his questionable judgment when faced with making major decisions." The reason: he picked someone who, through the prism "doesn't believe that Senator Obama is ready to serve as president."

Folks who agree are asked to "make an immediate donation of $25, $50, $150, $250, $500, $1,000 or even $2,300" to the McCain camp (the latter amount is the maximum allowed by law).

Not to be found in any of the GOP missives is any reference to Biden's status as one of the least affluent denizens of Capitol Hill. But that's getting a fair amount of attention elsewhere, including an item by Steve Clemons on Huffington Post with this headline: "Joe Biden Won't Forget the Number of Houses He Owns."

On top of the flap over McCain's real estate holdings, some pundits are wondering whether the Biden pick might decrease the chances of the super-wealthy Mitt Romney getting the VP call from McCain.

-- Don Frederick

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Hillary Clinton's take on the Joe Biden pick

DENVER -- As Barack Obama let the suspense build this last week over his vice presidential pick -- and a spate of new polls showed a virtual dead heat in the race for the White House -- the chattering classes indulged in one last bout of speculation about a Democratic "dream ticket."

With that prospect now officially dead, Hillary Clinton today issued the following statement:

"In naming my colleague and friend Joe Biden to be the vice presidential nominee, Barack Obama has continued in the best traditions for the vice presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president who will help Senator Obama both win the presidency and govern this great country.”

Regardless, as Democrats descend on Denver, taking the temperature of Clinton supporters -- now that their party's ticket does not include her, one of her supporters, or a woman -- will be one of the main media preoccupations.

As John McCain's choice of a running mate nears, we also would not be surprised if one last burst of attention focuses on women that he might choose, such as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

-- Don Frederick

Obama picked Joe Biden. What do you say? Vote here now

All right, now's your chance to pass judgment on Sen. Barack Obama's judgment.

How'd he do in picking Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate on the Democratic Party ticket?

They haven't even been officially nominated yet. That comes this week in Denver. But why should that stop Ticket readers from voting?

It shouldn't.

So have at it on both questions. And let's see what Ticket readers decide.

--Andrew Malcolm

While you're here, why not sign up for free automatic Twitter feeds of all Ticket items straight to your cellphone?

Join the growing throngs preparing for the rest of this political season and beyond by having every Ticket item -- plus special offline Tweets from The Ticket's writers starting with the two parties'  conventions -- sent directly to your cellphone. To register for instant Twitter updates from The Ticket, go here and sign up.

--A.M.

Boom-Boom. Obama picks Biden; GOP picks Biden to hit Obama

Well, that didn't take long.

Some of you are still reading right here on The Ticket that Sen. Barack Obama has chosen Delaware's Sen. Joseph Biden as his vice presidential running mate on the Democratic Party ticket to be formally nominated in the next few days in Denver.

And, boom, just in time for a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast in any U.S. time zone, here comes the first ad from the campaign of Sen. John McCain, who doesn't have a running mate yet.

What do you bet he picks a governor instead of yet another Washington insider? Biden does have a lot of foreign policy experience. (He'll likely be playing down though his Iraq plan to divide the country in three, don't you think?)

But being a Washington veteran also means that Biden's been a senator in D.C. since Obama was an 11-year-old. And Obama's 47 now.

The video of the new McCain ad is below.

The McCain ad (no doubt they had ones prepared for several candidates) is called simply "Biden." Why?

Because it features Biden himself talking about Obama (you might guess Biden once thought the freshman Illinois senator was not yet ready for primetime) standing right next to Obama, who was looking down his nose wordlessly during a Democratic debate last winter.

And the ad also features Biden talking about McCain; Biden says he'd be honored to run with or against a John McCain. Is it possible the two of them could have an elevated, respectful civil debate over the future of our foreign policy? Can a presidential candidate do that with an opposing vice presidential candidate, who's supposed to be the attack dog?

Think we'll be seeing a good deal more of this kind of contrast in the coming weeks? Maybe even as soon as this coming week when McCain's people buy ads during network coverage of the Democratic Convention.

Speaking of which, here's a reminder that you can join the growing throngs preparing for the rest of this political season and beyond by having every single Ticket item -- plus special offline Tweets from The Ticket's writers starting with the two party's conventions -- sent directly to your cellphone.

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--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: CafePress.com

Crisis greets Dems streaming into Denver to crown Obama-Biden

Tragedy has already struck the Democratic National Convention. And it doesn't even start until Monday.

With an estimated 50,000 excited visitors crowding around the baggage claim carousels at Denver International Airport today and tomorrow, each of them having had yet another pleasing experience as a modern American airline passenger, news has emerged that the Mile High City is suffering from a dramatic shortage of limousines.

Fancy cars with bars and TVs inside.

There will definitely be an insufficient number of the huge, gas-guzzling shiny cars with uniformed drivers to ferry really important members of the party of working Americans to and from their parties, meetings and votes during the four days of festivities that average U.S. taxpayers will see some of on TV.

Let alone wait for their customers, idling for hours, while patrons drink and dine and maybe vote and whatever else they do when they're away from home in a different city without family.

If a practical limousine solution is not found urgently, some Democrats may even be forced to take taxis, where you pay cash money according to a meter.

Or, worse yet, clamber up the rubber-covered steps onto common shuttle buses, just like ordinary people, to sit on yucky hard plastic seats or clasp shiny metal poles that have been gripped by other hands that have been who knows where doing who knows what.

Some Denver visitors may even have to walk on their own feet along hard cement sidewalks from their hotels to the Pepsi Center or Invesco Field for Thursday's big speech.

"Everyone wants a limo," said Gene Cookenboo, president of the Limousine Assn. of Colorado and owner of the appropriately named Presidential Limousine, the city's largest such service.

Some of the Democratic delegates and their followers want to....