THE CHOICE

Posted at  5:35 a.m. ET

Obama has now chosen Joe Biden of Delaware as his running mate.  The official announcement comes at 10 a.m. today. 

So, the most interesting part of the vice-presidential contest is over.  Now Biden can contemplate the emptiness of the job, and the madness of rushing around the country to all 50 states, or 57 according to Obama, trying to get elected while explaining a past comment that Barack Obama isn't quite ready for the presidency.

Slip of the tongue, I'm sure he'll say.

For the rest of us, go back to sleep.  Nothing to see here, nothing to see.  Obama could have chosen worse, or he could have chosen Hillary, and re-ignited his campaign, which is starting to look like a plant that hasn't been watered in two or three weeks.  Choosing Biden, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, presumably will demonstrate that Obama values foreign-policy expertise, although expertise without sound policies means nothing.  Don't tell Obama that.

At the same time, voters might notice that the second man is far more experienced than the top guy.  They might also notice that Biden has a way with words - using thousands of them when ten would do and five would be perfect.  Thus, the law of averages is against him.  The chances of a gaffe increase proportionately with the number of words employed.   

And they might recall that Biden went nowhere in several presidential bids, the latest being earlier this year.  He hasn't exactly made a hit with the public.

But the vice-presidential nominee tends to disappear during the campaign.  The veep choices will get a debate, and maybe there'll be a consolation prize from a game-show host.  The top of the ticket will decide the contest.

I'd be curious to see if the choice produces any bump in the polls.  While Biden failed with the voters in the primaries, Hillary came close to making it.  No doubt her supporters, both at the convention and among the masses, will notice that Obama chose the low-score guy.  Some bitterness will flow.

So that phase is over.  No longer will the Biden fanatics have to wait.  They both have gotten their way.  The convention will act appropriately enthusiastic, and Obama/Biden will be launched.

As I said, go back to sleep.

August 23, 2008.