From The Hotline for Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008

Biden His Time?

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008


The text goes out. The media reports. The pundits ... talk. But what bounce, if any, can Obama expect post-announcement?

-- The conversation will change. Georgia/Russia, VFW, and now Musharraf all fall within McCain's comfort zone. Meanwhile, Obama's quelling ongoing Dem fears he's not hitting back hard enough. The downside: w/foreign policy in the spotlight, does a Bayh/Biden pick simply reinforce McCain's claim that Obama's not seasoned enough?

-- It distracts a media eager for Clinton drama on the road to Denver. The latest installment: B. Clinton plays bipartisan in Las Vegas w/praise for McCain's energy policies. This as McCain spends the a.m. on an oil rig chastising Obama for refusing to drill offshore.

-- It finally gives Obama an attack dog. Trying to run as a "different kind of candidate" boxed Obama in during the primaries. But w/a surrogate on his side, can't he stay above the fray and let his 'mate kick it old school?

-- Timing? Mid-week gives delegates time to digest. This may be a good idea since a CBS poll of delegates showed 28% want Hillary, while just 6% picked Biden. But a later roll-out would mean Obama gets to own the weekend. Not a bad thing on the eve of his Biggest. Week. Ever.

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