From the Washington Post’s The Trail: Biden and McCain, Rivals Again

Posted by Kendall Harmon

By selecting Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, Barack Obama has picked a Senate colleague who has a long and friendly rivalry with Obama's Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain.

From their perches on the leading foreign policy committees, Biden and McCain have shadowboxed across the globe, building reputations as experts in their respective parties on war and peace.

But their clash over the direction of the war in Iraq -- and now the prospect of a high-stakes political campaign this fall -- has strained that collegial relationship, leaving both men more than willing to do battle with the other.

"He has respect for McCain but he'll be the first to angered by the sort of cheap shots they're throwing at Obama now," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who predicted that Biden will relish the role of playing a lead attack dog on McCain.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Economics, Politics • US Presidential Election 2008

6 Comments
Posted August 23, 2008 at 5:55 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Jeffersonian wrote:

What cheap shots is Obama whining about now?

August 23, 6:18 pm | [comment link]
2. AnglicanFirst wrote:

I see Biden as a ‘scrappy street fighter’ who also has foreign policy credentials based upon his senate service. 

The actual practice of foreign policy within the executive branch of government requires calmness and objectivity in evaluation, firmness with courtesy in presentation of the nation’s policy and course of action, sophistication in tactics and strategy, and level headedness in times of crisis.

Are these qualities for which Biden is known?

Does anybody honestly expect Biden to ‘grow into’ these qualities if he is the Vice President?

August 23, 9:38 pm | [comment link]
3. Jim of Lapeer wrote:

McCain, or McPOW, as some Dems are calling him, is also noted for his hot headedness and off the cuff anger. At least Biden will be in the No. 2 spot in the case of a crisis.
  I think it is time (wasting my breath here) that our candidates turn from attacking each other and tell us why we should vote for them.
  I long for one election where I get to choose from candidates who tell me why they are the best choice, instead of why the other guy is the wrong choice.
  Could we, please, could we, just once?

August 24, 8:30 am | [comment link]
4. Words Matter wrote:

No, Jim, we can’t. You are wasting your breath, not just here, but in this culture. The article just posted (above) says the Republicans have issued “a declaration of war”.  This article says they are going to “do battle”.  This isn’t a civil contest, it’s WAR.  Why that is so is a long essay.

And you might consider your own inclusion of the negative “McPOW” in your own comments.  You should consider the counterproductive impact of such a term on those who respect Senator McCain while disagreeing with him. Even in war, there are things you just don’t attack.

August 24, 8:41 am | [comment link]
5. Dave B wrote:

McCain actually asked Obama to join him in 8 to 10 town hall meetings, no moderators, just answering questions from the audiance.  Obama refused!  I think something like that could have helped politics a lot.  AT the end of the day, who ever wins we need to come to gether to solve our problems.

August 24, 9:57 am | [comment link]
6. Jim of Lapeer wrote:

Just to clarify, I was not approving of the term McPOW, I think it is disgusting and, if you are a Democrat, counter productive.
For the record and to even things out, I heard some extreme Republicans are planning a bumper sticker that says “No to Obama bin Biden.”

Equally disgusting and counter productive. It is those kinds of negative campaigning that simply turn me off.

I wish they were all gone.

August 24, 12:41 pm | [comment link]
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