Delaware Senator Biden -Obama's Running Mate

Four thousand two hundred represented at the Pepsi Congress Center, 50,000 people expected, of whom were 15,000 journalists from all over the world, where the Democratic convention, opened on Monday August 25 in Denver, a defining moment for presidential candidate Barack Obama and his running mate Joseph Biden, whom he chose to be his vice president if he wins, according to a text sent to his followers on Saturday August 23.

A choice that shows the fear of being charged with being “unexperienced” by his future Republican adversary, John McCain, in regards to national security and international politics, perceived by Obama’s campaign strategists as the greatest threat of thwarting his success at the ballot box on November 4.

In fact, Joseph Biden is a particularly experienced politician, who has continuously been seated in the American Senate since 1972, when he was elected at only 29 years of age. This Catholic, 65 years old, presides over the Senate’s foreign affairs commission, where he has forged a predominate position in all decision processes.

Mr. Biden participated in the Democratic primary elections before withdrawing during the primaries after meager results. He then supported Mr. Obama’s candidacy. “Liking sports and politics” and never worrying about getting “dirty,” he is not a great speaker, notes Politico.com, he is known for “speaking his mind” and his “staunch” positions.

A Very Respected {ersonality

The Delaware Senator, already critical of what he considers the Bush administration’s “unilateral” vision, denounced the “war on terrorism” as it was conceived and managed by the Bush administration and supported by Republican candidate John McCain. A “war” that was already vehemently criticized in a remarkably structured article, entitled “Republicans and our enemies,” published on May 23 in Wall Street Journal. The global vision that regroups all threats under the indiscriminate title of “terrorism,” he wrote, led to certain American failure on an international scale. By choosing Joseph Biden, Barack Obama also opted for a very respected personality within his party.

But Joseph Biden himself would be useful in his objective of strengthening his education before the opening of the Denver convention. This should allow Mr. Obama, says political scientist Tom Holbrook, professor at Wisconsin University, specialist in electoral history, of giving a “boost” to his campaign when, according to the polls, he lost the advantage he had in June over his Republican opponent. And there is very clear tension within the Democratic party.

This fracture, which profoundly divided the Democratic party during the primaries appears to be far from being absorbed. Last week, a poll indicated that only a little more than half of Hillary Clinton’s former supporters were ready to vote for the person who kept her from the road to presidency and that only a fifth of them would even vote for Mr. McCain. Publicly, the New York senator is playing the game and is increasing participation in Mr. Obama’s support meetings.

But a number of observers judge her energy to be calculated. “I need,” she said on Thursday during a meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, “a president who will work with me, who will be there for the people for whom I battle each day.” We have seen less cautious support.

The last few days, Mrs. Clinton’s supporters made criticisms that were not challenged by Mr. McCain’s campaign. “It is nice to talk to people about hope and change, but you also have to give concrete, pragmatic ideas,” she told Ted Strickland, the Democratic governor of Ohio. “Obama wants to unite everyone, but he divided the Democratic party as it hasn’t been since the Vietnam War,” John Coale, a Clinton funds collector stated on Friday.

The Democratic convention must be the time for the candidate to clarify his positions by giving convincing responses to the socio-economic worries that plague many Americans. His team states that this will be the case. “This convention’s objective,” says Anita Dunn, “one of Mr. Obama’s strategies, is that from the beginning, people will clearly know the differences between the two candidates and the two parties.