The Note: Rocky Roads in Denver for Obama-Biden
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports in a special Sunday edition of The Note: So now that we’ve seen what a real-life 3 a.m. moment looks like (what do you think Hillary Clinton did when she got that text message?) …
. . . now that Sen. Barack Obama claimed the first Obama-Biden slip for himself (but just barely) . . .
. . . now that Sen. Joe Biden has proven that this attack dog remembers how to bite (and brings along clips that bite back) . . .
. . . what confronts the newly minted Obama-Biden ticket hasn’t really changed that much.
Democrats are arriving in a gorgeous and welcoming (except for the police-state atmosphere) Denver with Obama’s challenges fairly well defined, if not particularly easier to navigate.
Among the many measuring tools: Obama will be sized up against himself (with four days of themes to be shoe-horned into a unique resume). He’ll be compared to (and contrasted with) with his new running mate. He’ll be contrasting himself with Sen. John McCain (defined, for Democrats’ purposes this week, as Bush the Third.) And always, always, there are the Clintons.
It’s Obama 49, McCain 43 among registered voters in the new ABC News/Washington Post poll, and just four points — 49-45 — among likelies. (By now, Obamaland knows the drill.)
"Nearly half of registered voters, 47 percent, continue to think Obama lacks the experience it takes to serve effectively as president, a lot to lose on this basic qualification," ABC polling director Gary Langer writes. "McCain leads him by 2-1 margins as more knowledgeable on world affairs and as better suited to be commander in chief, and has moved ahead in trust to handle international relations."
And the factoid that may matter most in the Mile High City: 30 percent of former Clinton supporters aren’t on board yet for Obama. On the other side: "McCain faces his own challenges: Fifty-seven percent think he’d lead in the same direction as the heavily unpopular George W. Bush," Langer writes.
What will Denver mean when we’ve been locked in the same race all summer? "The results show little movement from the last Post-ABC survey, conducted in mid-July, before Obama embarked on a highly publicized trip overseas, and prior to a series of fierce exchanges between the campaigns," Dan Balz and John Cohen write in The Washington Post.
Obama’s "two overriding priorities," per National Journal’s Ron Brownstein: "One is to resolve doubts about his qualifications and agenda that McCain has seeded this summer with ads portraying the Democrat as a vapid celebrity and a soft-on-defense, tax-and-spend liberal. Even more important, many argue, Obama must reframe the fundamental choice in the election from whether he is ready to be president to whether the country wants to continue in the direction set by Bush, particularly on economic policy."
The choice of Biden may heighten the import of national security in this race — but listen carefully and you’ll hear pocketbooks picking up the pace. "My main goal at this convention and through my speech is to convey a sense of urgency that so many families are feeling across the country," Obama, D-Ill., tells The Denver Post’s Karen Crummy. "And to present a clear choice between continuing the same economic policies that have caused record foreclosures, rising unemployment, rising inflation, flat and declining incomes and wages, and a new approach to economic policies that I believe will create prosperity, growth and fairness."
Writes Crummy: "Going on the attack when running a campaign for change is risky, Obama acknowledges." Said Obama: "It’s something I worry about and wrestle with all the time. I really prefer having a debate about issues."
Friendly advice: "While Obama can continue to try to reassure resistant Clinton loyalists in Appalachia that he’s not a bogeyman from Madrassaland, he must also move on to the bigger picture for everyone else," Frank Rich writes in his New York Times column. "He must rekindle the ‘fierce urgency of now’ — but not, as he did in the primaries, merely to evoke uplifting echoes of the civil-rights struggle or the need for withdrawal from Iraq."
Rich continues: "R.I.P., ‘Change We Can Believe In.’ The fierce urgency of the 21st century demands Change Before It’s Too Late." What Denver will mean is a week to answer the critics — those who say he can’t/shouldn’t/won’t win.
And could any of those critics matter more than those associated with an ex-candidate named Clinton?
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USS Gabrielle Giffords Honors Courage 
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
As a Hillary Democrat, I have said the party screwed up big time with their annointed nominee; didn’t matter if Biden gets added. It is still a very, very sorry ticket. Golden opportunity lost. My hope is Hillary will team with Michael Bloomberg and offer us the “dream” ticket.
Posted by: benvictor | August 24, 2008, 11:45 am 11:45 am
McCain supporters don’t Google:
Songbird-McCain
Your so-called war hero won’t remain
your hero.
Posted by: Kirk Muse | August 24, 2008, 11:49 am 11:49 am
The only CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN will be the change in our pockets after Obama gets our money from his tax, tax, tax, tax policy IF he is elected.
Posted by: Michael McCoy | August 24, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am
After Rev. Wright came into the scene Obama never recovered. People realized he was a sham. Ever since then his poll numbers have been sinking. He only won the nomination on pure momentum. If the nomination were held today Hillary would win by a landslide.
The dems know they screwed up nominating Obama. Now they are trying hard to shore up his weaknesses but it is wasted energy. Obama’s only chance of winning the presidency was to pick Hillary as VP.
Obama is going to lose this election and he has only himself to blame.
Posted by: Hillary2012 | August 24, 2008, 11:54 am 11:54 am
obama said he’d rathe debate? this from a guy who has dodged debates all along and basically refuses to debate mccain? sorry dude, you won’t be taking my money from me if i can help it. hand my money to someone who WON’T do better for themselves. it’s not they CAN’T, but they won’t even try to do better. lazy bums, and obama wants us to support them. Hillary MUST become a third party candidate.
Posted by: stevie | August 24, 2008, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
And Senator Obama did not want politics as usual? Here we have an old Washington insider and a new insider. Biden is no less than Cheney II in that Biden’s sharp, no holds barreed, talk them down style along with his insidership will not likely be held off by Obama’s pleasantness, smiley, get-along demeanor not to mention his inexperience.
Then we have in Senator Biden a man who plagiarized material during his college days and joined the conspiracy to demean, besmearch and rudely dispatch both one of the ablest of American jurists of his time, Robert Bork, and the reputation of the United States Senate. Please explain to me how this is not politics as usual.
Posted by: Fred Nose | August 24, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
“What Denver will mean is a week to answer the critics — those who say he can’t/shouldn’t/won’t win.”
———————————
Hmmmm, and I thought what Denver will and should mean is an opportunity to directly present to the American people a direction and vision of where Obama-Biden and the Democrats want to take the nation. NOT to answer the political critics and pundits
Posted by: Michael | August 24, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Riddle me this: if the nation’s voters did not like Biden for President in ’88 or ’08, why would they like him for Veep and a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Word to the wise: don’t trust the polls.
Posted by: doug kaiser | August 24, 2008, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
Man, these GOP *Hillary Supporters* sure get around.
For those unaware, the GOP is behind the *PUMA* & *Hillary was dissed* movements.
They’ll be at the Convention, to disrupt, and try to make it like the Convention in *68.
That’s not to say there aren’t some disaffected Hillary voters… only that the majority are part of a GOP disinformation campaign.
Me, I’ve voted for Hillary three times.
She lost.
I’m happy to vote for Obama, and love the choice of Biden – - the REAL Straight-Talker in this campaign – - a basic working-class guy.
Posted by: jon | August 24, 2008, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
I love the current ploy of the conservative commenters – pretend to be Democrats and whine about Obama.
As a real Demoocrat who supported Hillary I can say this: Any real Democrat will vote for Obama simply because any progressive is an improvement over our current situation.
The working class of America needs to understand that the miniscule cut in taxes given to them by the Bush administration has been overwhelmed by a devastating reduction in services and responsibilities of the government.
Your gas costs tripled, your toys are no longer safe, food is no longer properly inspected, infrastructure is ignored, levees fail, and three years later New Orleans is still devastated. And that’s without even considering the failures involving Iraq.
The Three Stooges could run this country better than the current Republican elite. Obama will be a fine president.
All this Hillary talk is merely Republicans sowing discontent.
Posted by: mkoch | August 24, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
I would love to se Hillary Clinton runs as independent candidate. I believe that we can win this race with the democratic party. With all the good things she had done for this party, I am ashamed that she was treated this way by this party. If experienced is what we Americans are looking for than this is an example of how truely bias and discriminated we are against women. Compare Obama to Clinton. He knows how to talk. She knows how to get the work done. He has no experience, no knowledge. She has the experience, the knowledge and the how to get it done. It’s a shame that she did not get the nomination just because she is black enough , man enough and poor enough.
Posted by: susan | August 24, 2008, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
Kirk Muse,
I’ve heard of this scandal. The group Vietnam Veterans against John McCain are plannning to swift boat John McCain n that exact scandal.
Posted by: Vanessa | August 24, 2008, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
Obama needs a retired General to stand by him. Its to bad retired General Wesley Clark was taken out of play by the Republican smear machine. McCain has been singing the praises of General Petraeus in August in order to associate himself with General Petraeus. Active Generals are neutral in Elections. If McCain whats showcase a retired General endorsing his campaign that would be fine. The Troops contributing more to Obama’s campaign was the news of August for Obama. Obama needs a General thats on the same page with him
Posted by: Bobby | August 24, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Thank you BHO… you saved me a lot of money by NOT picking HRC. I gave all I could to her campaign and was set to do the same for the Dream ticket… looks like I can watch the election from the sidelines where you put me. Let me know how it works out for you
Posted by: Chipo1965 | August 24, 2008, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Obama: Way too proud too arrogant and too vindictive to pick Hilary
He still believes the insane Barney style “We can do it! Yes we can” hype created by his campaign David Axelrod. Without Hillary he’ll never make it. At this point it’s all lip service from her no matter how broad she smiles or how loud she chants “Barak Obama! The next president of the UNITED STATES!!!”.
Posted by: Dr. Dave | August 24, 2008, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Hillary running in a three way? Keep dreaming, Republicans. And stop pretending to be Democrats, you don’t do it very well. The GOP needs to pay a better class of bloggers.
Posted by: mkoch | August 24, 2008, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
as a hillary supporter i just cannot bring myself to do the better of two evils dance anymore.
the fear-mongering by both parties will help neither, but especially obama who said he was an agent of change.
the more i hear about bidens role the more he sounds like a pop-up cheney.
biden has been in politics longer than mccain, that alone totally diminishes obamas message of change.
Posted by: sonia trevino | August 24, 2008, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
one of the issues i have found most disconcerting is the fact that both obama and his supporters appear to be totally oblivious to the fact that a significant number of hillary democrats will not support obama. instead of trying to bridge the gap and do something about it, both obama and his supporters appear to be in denial. obama supporters making comments suggesting that we are in fact republicans does not help it only reinforces the belief that the obama camp is immature in its thinking, and in denial. continued insults only strengthen our resolve and will not help win over hillary moderate democrats. also the party-line guilt trip does not work on mature voters, it only reminds us that the party dissed us after faithful service for many generations-it keeps the wound festering.
Posted by: sonia trevino | August 24, 2008, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Obama’s theme “HOPE for some spare CHANGE”. It’s funny how he said “Washington has changed but it has not changed Biden”. Make me laughs. Biden’s son is a lobbyist for god’s sake.
how is biden has credential with foreign affairs when he wanted to divide Iraq into 3 countries?? Make sure there’s no conflict going on in the US because he might divide our country up.
Posted by: hannah | August 24, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
JA, as usual, that’s another Republican lie. What McCain offered was NOT debates. There WILL be debates, just not in the informal setting McCain suggested.
Posted by: mkoch | August 24, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
i guess the biden selection suggest that obama needed somebody on his team that is more like mccain, seasoned, experienced, old timer, insider? is that the logic some of you are employing for bidens selection? if that is the case then just vote for the real mccain instead of this contorted imitation knock-off version that includes a revival of cheny-what is that?
Posted by: sonia trevino | August 24, 2008, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
mkoch- Obama always says “I want to have a debate on that” and hmm…how many debates had he dodged from McCain and also Hillary. This guy is a total wimp. He looks less than of a man than his wife, Clinton & an old man McCain. And you want him to be the commander of the strongest military in the world?? Imagine Obama with Putin. I see Putin can grind Obama into pieces with his barehand.
Posted by: hannah | August 24, 2008, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Hey everyone im going to vote for Obama so i can pay the gorverment more of my hard earned money.
Posted by: jasonObama's half-brother a slum dweller in Nairobi | August 24, 2008, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
oh im sorry i cant vote i live in africa and only make one dollar a month, dame brother can you send me some change?????????
Posted by: jasonObama's half-brother a slum dweller in Nairobi | August 24, 2008, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
I’m a democrat, but my party has developed a split personality without realizing it. A faction of the party sees the Iraq war as a heinous crime. This faction holds Hillary at fault for voting for use of force in Iraq and then not saying it was wrong. It has lead to extreme vitriol thrown at her from the far left. Obama gets a free pass on it by having no responsibility for that decision. However, nearly all senators from that time in 2002 are in the position of Hillary, including for example John Edwards. On Meet the Press Feb 2007, he said the mistake in the vote was trusting GWB to execute the war well. He said it was not a mistake to use force in Iraq, this is in 2007. The future course of acton in Iraq should not be dependent on past events, except if you think the war was started with venial intent, then fast withdrawal is the only option. There is a real disconnect of the leadership of the Democrats in the senate and the view of this large faction of the party. Obama is their champion since he is clean on the Iraq war. This split in the party will not heal easy and may not heal by November. We do not know where Obama sits on the view of Iraq as heinous crime or as poor judgment and it is clearly an issue he would rather avoid since he can only inflame one side or the other. However, the Iraq vote is a cause for that faction to dislike Hillary and all her supporters. That split in the party already forced Joe Leiberman out of the party and that was just a shameful display by Democrats. Leiberman won a large majority in that election, so a lesson is there.
Posted by: Mark Riggle | August 24, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
Obama? Hillary? Biden?
Is this the best that you Dems can come up with? In this volatile world do you really want to trust our future to them?
What are you people smokin’???
Posted by: Sam Allen | August 24, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
Trivia question in the XXII century:
What was the largest event of any type in the history of humans on planet Earth, whose outcome was defined by racism?
This is not a joke, it is indeed the case, however embarrassing. Even if you go back to Roman times, you will not find in any event with the number of racists that will be involved in November insuring McCain’s victory. We are talking tens of millions. Unprecedented in human history.
Posted by: Domingo Tavella | August 24, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
I am so sick of stupid people who lkeep trying to bring Rev. Wright out as something bad. FAUX noise said so, so it must be truth? Like Shrub told you Iraq had WMDS? Nothing wrong w/wright, just a lot of hateful people painting him that way, like the juveniles here talking about people they don’t know.
PUMAs are Op. Chaos rush voters, plain and simple. Not Dems.
Posted by: MaeScott | August 24, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
caught off guard and without a telepromper, Bucky stutters like Porky Pig on cocaine. And Michelle comes across as an angry militant racist gorilla.
don’t let these freaks anywhere near the white house
Posted by: MaeScott | August 24, 2008, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
Domingo Tavella: What a driveling coward you are, my friend. If Obama goes down in defeat, as you seem to believe, it will be because his strongest support comes from sociopaths like you.
Posted by: RandalH | August 25, 2008, 3:00 am 3:00 am
You Hillary supporters are a cult! What is it with you people?? We are DEMOCRATS…not hillarycrats, obamacrats, etc…We are running against a political ideology that over the past 8 years has damaged our country badly! and you idiots are willing to continue the same republican policies??? You Hillary wackjobs are insane and are not true democrats…you are all selfish, pathetic children.
Posted by: Brandon | August 25, 2008, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Why are they spoiled Brandon? What ever happeded to your belief in choice? You sound desperate Sir. Get ready for at least 4 more years of a Republican President. If that spoiled brat Obama Boy had chosen Hillary you may have won. I think you dillusional Obama loons would vote for him even if he had his uncle Osama Bin Laden on the ticket. I’m right aren’t I? HMMMMMM. :)
Posted by: bombem | August 25, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm