Choice Of Biden Signals Vigorous Debate With GOP On Foreign Policy, But There Are Risks

[ProSense]

Choice Of Biden Signals Vigorous Debate With GOP On Foreign Policy, But There Are Risks

By Greg Sargent - August 23, 2008, 8:20AM

In choosing Joe Biden as his running mate, Barack Obama is gambling that Biden's many strengths will compensate for his own weaknesses as a candidate, rather than serve as a backdrop against which those weaknesses will appear in sharp relief.

<...>

When Biden takes aim at Republicans on foreign policy, he exudes a strong sense of authority on the topic that tends to shrivel his target into a cartoonish figure rather quickly. Exhibit number one of this trait is Biden's now-infamous "noun, verb, 9/11" claim about Rudy Giuliani. Another choice example of this is here.

Biden, ultimately, shares and embodies one of the core convictions driving Obama's campaign: That Democrats can win an argument about national security with Republicans, and shouldn't run from a fight on the topic or concede any sort of presumed GOP superiority on it.

<...>

Indeed, the McCain camp is already working hard to push the notion that Biden's candidacy embodies an argument for McCain and not for Obama, running a new ad highlighting Biden's previous criticism of Obama's inexperience and Biden's praise of McCain. One hopes against hope that there aren't examples lurking in the archives of Biden praising McCain's national security credentials.

<...>

Obama is likely to try to reconcile such tensions by arguing that the choice of Biden shows that he's a change agent, but one who understands the wisdom of tempering the ardor for change with the counsel of experience -- that experience complements and enables effective change; that Biden complements him.

There's another risk in Biden, and it represents the flip-side of his undeniable talent for rhetorically dismantling his foes. The choice of Biden introduces a loquacious and occasionally gaffe-prone figure into a campaign that's largely succeeded because of its extraordinary message discipline.

Ultimately, though, we think the risks of picking Biden will be outweighed by his many strengths -- and we're looking forward to the vigorous debate on foreign policy the choice of Biden portends.

Time to take the national security argument away from Repubs, they can't compete at all on domestic policy.

[tallahasseedem]

1. Biden showed...

great restraint leading up to the announcement of him as VP. I think we have reason to be optimistic about the fact that he will remain controlled yet be the attack dog we need.

[ProSense]

2. Agree.

The next 10 weeks are going to be interesting.