The Crystal Ball Syndrome - Obama / Biden

August 23, 9:29 AMElections 2010 ExaminerTony Campbell

I really hate it when this contraption actually works. Earlier this week, I wrote the following post on an Obama / Biden ticket which gave a historical perspective on the 1988 election and tried to warn against repeating the mistakes of the past; well, no one was listening because the Obama / Biden ticket is now official.

“Bong, Bong, Bong” – does anyone else hear that? That ominous sound is the bell announcing the TKO the Democrats have just given themselves. This year was not supposed to be a contest; heck, just two months ago most pundits were talking about how large a coattail effect Obama would have in House and Senate races across the country. As I see it, Obama will be lucky to be even with McCain on Labor Day; in fact, he will probably be trailing in the national polls after the Republican Convention in Minneapolis.

1. Biden probably will not give up his bid to be re-elected to the United States Senate. The question, of course, is how committed are you to being the Vice-President if you are hedging your bets.

2. The Republicans are sure to love the fact that the candidate of change has selected the ultimate Washington insider for his running mate. Biden, elected in 1972, has only three less years of Washington time than current Vice-President Dick Cheney.

The fall campaign will be centered on distraction and innuendo. It could have been a different kind of general election; where issues mattered and people paid attention to more than sound bites. With this decision, Obama made the politically safe bet…unfortunately, the safe bet may have cost him the Presidency.