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Monday, August 25, 2008
Does the VP matter?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Barack Obama paid a high price to get experience. Picking Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate shores up his glaring weaknesses in experience. Pretty clearly, he’d gotten the message from skeptical voters that they’re not comfortable with him getting that 3 a.m. phone call.
Biden has flaws and baggage. Over the next two months, voters will get a first-rate education on what those are.
Biden does allow Democrats to play the good cop/bad cop routine. Out of the gate, Biden fell into his role: Be the attack dog on McCain..
A quick Zogby online interactive survey Saturday and Sunday of 2,248 likely voters gave it a wash. Among all voters, 19 percent were more inclined and 16 percent less inclined to support the ticket because of Biden. Only 7 percent said they’d ever voted for a ticket because of the number two, but 74 percent think it’s important this year.
Among Republicans, Mitt Romney is the clear favorite at 49 percent. Nobody else is close. The AJC endorsed Romney in the Georgia primary. He’d certainly float my boat. He’s the guy I’d like getting the 3 a.m. phone call that Congress is about to ride to the rescue of, say, housing or the economy.
The question is, though, does the VP selection induce you to vote for a candidate you hadn’t already favored?
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