Joltin Joe Biden!

Joltin' Joe Biden!

I still believe that the VP pick is of little consequence this year, but you have to admit, this one is amusing. The reaction is remarkable, given the affection the press has for Sen. Obama -- recall the recent AP story that said it was "innuendo and false rumor" that Sen. Obama had "attended a radical black church, explaining, "In fact, Obama... attended Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago." (Oh, well, our mistake!)

This morning, though, the AP has not one but two pieces declaring that lack of confidence is shown by the pick, and questioning if Obama is ready for the Presidency based on the choice. Oof.

What interests me is if this, coupled with the news that Sen. Obama's pulling his ads in red states, means that his internals are more negative than what we're seeing in the public polling. He was expected to choose Sen. Bayh, to help out in Indiana (and may have paid someone to print bumper stickers to that effect); or Sen. Kaine, to help bring Virginia aboard. Does this suggest that the plan to 'remake the map' is now admitted to be a fantasy in the private councils of the Obama campaign?

The choice does make Sen. McCain's job easier in some respects, as explored here. There's tape of Biden questioning Obama's experience, and stating that the Presidency is no place for 'on the job training'; he's about the same age as McCain, taking age off the table somewhat; he's been in Washington and the Senate even longer, since the Nixon administration; people who feel that Sen. Obama is arrogant will probably not be charmed by Biden's "My IQ is higher than yours" approach; etc.

Oh, and he voted to authorize the war in Iraq. Then he spoke kindly of Sen. McCain's push for the Surge. Then he rammed through a bill condemning the Surge as not in the nation's best interests. Then he...

Heh.