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WORLD> America
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Obama introduces running mate Biden
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-24 09:04 Responding to Obama's pick, the McCain campaign quickly produced a television ad featuring Biden's previous praise for McCain and comments critical of his new benefactor. In an ABC interview last year, Biden said he stood by an earlier statement that Obama wasn't yet ready to be president and "the presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training." In addition, the Republican Party arranged for an independent expenditure advertising campaign to coincide with the Democratic convention. One individual familiar with the plans described a $2.25 million effort on cable and broadcast stations through Aug. 31 in the battleground states of Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Obama brought Biden on stage with his glowing introduction to the strains of Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising." The newly named running mate moved center stage in shirt-sleeves at a brisk trot that belied his 65 years, and embraced Obama. "I'm glad to be here," said the man who has twice sought the presidency. Thousands of newly printed signs bearing the words Obama/Biden sprouted in the crowd that waited in anticipation in 90-degree temperatures. Both men spoke for 16 minutes -- unlikely a coincidence given Biden's reputation for verbosity. Obama's remarks were carefully crafted to emphasize Biden's accomplishments in the Senate, his blue-collar roots and -- above all -- his experience on foreign policy. "I can tell you Joe Biden gets it," he said. "He's that unique public servant who is at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids and the corridors of the Capitol, in the VFW hall in Concord, and at the center of an international crisis," he said. In contrast to the Obamas and the McCains, the Delaware senator isn't a multimillionaire. Biden and his wife, Jill, have $59,000 to $366,000 in assets and $140,000 to $365,000 in debts, including a $15,000 to $50,000 line of credit Biden co-signed with his son to cover college expenses, according to a financial disclosure report for 2007, which describes assets and liabilities in ranges. Obama recounted the personal tragedy that struck Biden more than 30 years ago, within days of his election to the Senate, when his first wife and their child were killed in an automobile accident. He said Biden raised his surviving children as a single parent, commuting between the Capitol and Delaware daily on the Amtrak train. "For decades, he has brought change to Washington, but Washington hasn't changed him," Obama said, attempting to blunt an emerging Republican line of attack that notes Biden's three decades in the polished corridors of the Capitol. "He's an expert on foreign policy whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class." In a jab at McCain that foretold Biden's far sharper criticism, Obama said his political partner "will give us some real straight talk." Biden blended praise for Obama and criticism of McCain. "You can't change America and make things better for our senior citizens when you signed on to Bush's scheme of privatizing Social Security," he said. "You can't change America and end this war in Iraq when you declare -- and again these are John's words -- 'No one has supported President Bush in Iraq more than I have,' end of quote." David Axelrod, Obama's senior strategist, described Obama's vice presidential search as "a long process but it always pointed in Biden's direction." Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who is close to Obama, added, "Many others were discussed but my impression was that those three a few weeks ago were really the centerpiece -- Kaine, Bayh and Biden." He referred to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. |
