Biden

From Mark Halperin:

Surely, as the Obama campaign unveils Biden to the world, they are little concerned about his ability to surmount the primary hurdle that any potential vice president must get over, that Biden is ready to be president from day one by virture of experience, temperament, and judgment. But the campaign will just as certainly be coaching him on his initial speeches and media appearances. Once again, Joe Biden will be told to keep it short and limit the use of the pronoun "I."

Those who know Biden well, who have watched him and worked with him over the years in the Senate and on the campaign trail, know two things with absolute certainty. One, it will be exceedingly difficult for Biden to carry out those instructions. And, two, if he is able to do as he is told regarding his renegade mouth, he will be a smash hit as Obama's running mate.

I like Joe Biden a lot, actually. Why Obama picked him as a candidate should be fairly self-evident. Clintons people can attack Obama's short resume all they want, but they can't attack Biden's. He's been in the Senate since the Mayflower arrived, and he's one of those guys you can consistently count on to be an unabashed liberal Democrat. Quite likely, if you take Ted Kennedy out of the picture, he's the first name on your lips when you're asked to name a Democratic Senator. His specialties shore up all of the perceived weaknesses is Obama's expertise. He is as qualified to lead the Senate as anyone in office. He will not be (and I believe is physically incapable of being) a yes-man. That's one of Biden's great gifts: he's fully aware of the complexities of the issues he's dealing with, but he can still communicate forcefully and directly in colloquial speech. For as long as he's been in the Senate, he still sounds like a normal guy when he tells you exactly what he's thinking.

But that's also the reason so many loyal Democrats want to smack the crap out of him sometimes.

As condescending as this is going to sound, politicians spend lifetimes learning how not to talk like normal guys for a very good reason. The language of the Senate is far more fluid and far more nuanced. There's a reason Bill Safire felt obliged to write a whole dictionary for it. Common speech is often more honest, but it can be blunt to the point where it acts as a bludgeon. You can get criticized by your constituents for sounding like a pompous ass, but when executed properly, Senate-speak is so vague and formal that it's impossible to say anything that could constitute a gaffe. Biden . . . how shall I put this? Biden should keep an extra pair of socks in his briefcase at all times so that he can put on a clean pair when he shoves his foot in his mouth. Biden exceeds most politicians in his honesty and his ability to speak directly, which is why he has to make so many apologies.

In a nutshell: Biden will be a great Vice President. However, as a running mate, he is very likely another land mine Obama will have to tip-toe around on his way to the White House. Personally, I think he can do it. But if, on November 5, anyone has reason to mention Tom Eagleton, Democrats will never forgive either Biden or Obama.