Everyone is all abuzz regarding Sen. Joe Biden’s latest proclamation regarding the 2004 election:
With many Democrats unenthusiastic about the nine presidential candidates, two more are sizing up the race and could join the bid to take on President Bush by September. A top Democratic official says that Delaware Sen. Joe Biden is at least 50-50 on joining “and some days is 70-30.” A family member says it’s closer to “80 percent” a go. Biden thinks his experience in foreign affairs is a plus in the post-9/11 world.
Let’s clear something up- Joe Biden is not going to run seriously for President. This statement is nothing more than a proclamation from Biden that he is available to be the Veep candidate. There are enough people running out there that people are not going to go for someone who is not already committed to win the Presidency. Biden is an affable guy, and would balance out a ticket with a southern Presidential candidate, particulalry one led by someone without any foriegn policy experience (Edwards).
The way I see it right now, the leading Dems for Presidential candidate are Dean, Kerry, and Edwards. The leading veep candidates are now Biden, Clark, and Graham. The most likely combinations that I can see right now are:
Dean/Clark
Dean/Graham
Edwards/Biden
Edwards/Graham
Kerry/Graham
Kerry/Clark
I still see Dean as the frontrunner. Like I have said 1000 times, he has a number of things going for him:
1.) The anger of the fringe and the perception that he, unlike other candidates, will stand up to Bush and the evil Republicans (which I have stated before is nonsense- Democrats have been attacking Bush for 5 years now- their message has simply failed to resonate).
2.) A better than average fund-raising apparatus for a first time national candidate.
3.) No history of Senate voting or compromise that can be hung around his neck. Kerry is going to be in a heap of big trouble later on when someone finally starts to ask him some questions about something other than his heiress or his hair. He has a long voting record, he has long been a media whore, and he has a big mouth. He is going to have to back up his votes and all the inconsistent statements and positions he has held (hell- from just the last 6 months there is enough to make you dizzy). But did you guys know he is a Viet Nam veteran?
4.) Dean is an outsider to the Beltway crowd, so the press will latch onto him as ‘new’ and ‘fresh’ and ‘exciting.’ That is always good for some media.
5.) Although he is a lightweight, he seems confident when he speaks (despite being wrong the majority of the time, or simply having a veneer of a position that is immediately shattered when asked fair yet tough questions. See Meet the Press). The press is too lazy to point out when he is wrong, so he can babble on without consequence at this point.
I really don’t see how Edward has a chance- every time I see him, I am reminded of the movie Legally Blonde.
The Mighty Reason Man
Cole-
Aside from numbers 1 and 5, I agree with just about everything you say in this post.
Good call.
Andrew Lazarus
Ditto, except I DON’T think the Dems have been consistent in attacking Bush. Sure, many have, but they have been tripped up by defections at critical junctures: the tax cuts, homeland security issues, Iraq. GWB is excellent at divide-and-conquer. Hey, that’s why they’re called “wedge issues”.
The one place that the Dems have hung together is judicial nominees, and we’re holding our own there. Heck, the Repubs are being riven into an anti-Constitutional repeal of filibusters.
Dean
Uh, WHERE in the Constitution are either filibusters mentioned, or protected? For that matter, WHERE in the Constitution is mentioned the idea that closing debate should require a super-majority?
Just curious….
Andrew Lazarus
The part about each chamber making its own rules.
There were filibusters in the First Senate.
Scott Malensek
Biden/Clark is the winning ticket. Bush has a huge popularity rating right now, and that’s not because of his charisma or his remarkable (or lack of) oratory skills. The American people like what he’s done. There are great Dem tickets that Dems would love or can find ways of justifying, but the ticket that will win over those centrists and even light right members is Biden/Clark. There is no way that people who rate Bush’s decisions over 60% are going to suddenly support a dem cand with poor or deeply partisan voting history, no history, or no DC+international experience. It’s not the economy anymore stupid (unemployment’s high but this ain’t the 1970’s). People want security-that’s why centrists and light right will overwhelming vote for Biden/Clark. Don’t ask which liberal or conservative will win the day, ask which person the American people will want-based on why they support GW even now. The answer to that question determines if it is a Dem landslide, a draw, or a “I guess we have to vote GW again” for most Americans.