The shakeup of the McCain campaign, bringing in Arnold Schwartznegger's former campaign manager, is paying off in spades, as it has become nimble, gutsy and provocative in recent weeks.
This has been evident in many recent events, but never more so than in Joe Biden's selection as Obama's running mate. The McCain campaign had radio and TV spots up within hours of the selection that were hardhitting and well conceived. One was Biden in 2005, praising McCain and saying he'd be honored to run with him. The other one that played upon the anger of the Hillary Clinton crowd, stressing how shabbily she was treated in the Biden selection.
The Biden selection was a safe, if not inspired, choice by Obama. Biden is a scion of the liberal foreign policy establishment and shores up one of Obama's most glaring weaknesses. How it must grate on a 36-year Senator like Biden to take second fiddle to a four-year Senator of very limited accomplishment and experience.
Politically, the choice severely damages Obama's mantra of hope and change. The idealistic young folks who put him where he is cannot be inspired by a veep 65 years old, who has never risen out of the single digits in two presidential runs. Obama would carry Biden's home state of Delaware without him, and Biden adds no electoral muscle in any other state.
There is great potential for Republicans in Biden, as he is a loose canon with a microphone in his hand and has enough baggage to fill a semi. Biden is almost sure to say something embarassing to Democrats before the campaign is out, if not get in a mess such as plagarizing his stump speech in 1988.
McCain's sure-footed response just shows the confidence the Biden pick has given him.
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