 "Photo: Andy Mettler — http://flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/2789288232")
University alumnus Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del., is one step closer to the West Wing. At the Democratic National Convention last week in Dever, Colo., Biden accepted his vice presidential nomination to be the running mate of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
University President Patrick Harker stated in an e-mail message the university community is excited an alumnus is running for vice president.
"It's a proud day for all Delawareans that one of our distinguished Senators, Joe Biden, has been selected as a candidate for the office of vice president," Harker said. "Here at the University of Delaware, we are particularly delighted that one of our most well-known alumni has achieved this distinction. Of course, we have long been proud of Joe's accomplishments as a public servant and internationally recognized foreign policy leader."
Jason Mycoff, a professor of political science, said the most important qualification for a vice presidential nominee is the ability to be prepared to be president. He said Biden fits that criteria because he has more than 30 years experience in the Senate and is a known foreign affairs leader. Mycoff said the senator has credibility as a politician and is a good campaigner.
"He knows Washington inside and out, he knows a lot of contacts and he has a lot of experience," he said.
Mycoff said Biden fits the traditional role of a vice presidential candidate because he will be an "attack dog." Vice presidential candidates are typically critical of the other political party, while presidential candidates present positives about the campaign, he said. Biden's long-time service in Congress has allowed him to see what Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has done over his career and be able to attack him for his flaws.
Joseph Pika, a professor of political science and international relations, said he thinks Biden offers a Northeastern connection and expansive foreign policy experience, which both strengthen the Democratic ticket's chances of winning the November presidential election.
"He provides kind of a Northeastern, middle-Atlantic liberal Democrat and there's a great deal of strength among Democrats on the East Coast," Pika said.
Biden will appeal to voting populations that include Catholics, older voters and groups Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, identified with when she ran for president, he said.
"He should run well with the middle class and whites, particularly from some of those swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan," Pika said.
Joe Sheeran, spokesperson for the Delaware Democratic Party, said Biden supports middle-class values and he is a leader for firefighters, police officers, minorities and women. He said he thinks Biden always puts priority on his family and his state.
"He worked for decades in Washington, but has never lived there," Sheeran said. "He worked for change in Washington, but Washington never changed him."
He said Obama and Biden will be able to work together as a team. He said Obama can look to Biden for good, and sometimes critical, advice.
Mycoff said he thinks Obama may have chosen Biden as his running mate because he predicts the Delaware senator will serve the White House administration, rather than be conscientious of his image in case he runs for president in the future. Mycoff said if Obama wins two terms as president, Biden will be 74 years old, which is considered old for a presidential candidate.
Biden does not bring many weaknesses to the Democratic ticket, but he is known to be verbose, he said.
"Sometimes he gets off message, commits verbal gaffes, and sometimes he insults people," he said.
Mycoff said if there were any major problems that would make Biden a bad politician or leader, the media would have already brought them up, since Biden has run for president twice, in 1988 and 2008.
"I'm pretty sure there are not a lot of skeletons in the closet," Mycoff said. "If there are any flaws, we know about them."
Seth Wimer, executive director of the Delaware Republican Party, stated in an e-mail message he thinks Obama's choice of Biden is an honor for Delaware, but sees inconsistency between Biden's experience and Obama's campaign message.
"I think that the choice of someone who has spent over 30 years in Washington is a contradiction with Obama's message of change," Wimer said.
Mycoff said the argument can go both ways and vice presidential nominees do align their focus with the presidential nominee's campaign. Obama and Biden will be pushing the same ideas.
"If you look at Biden's career, he isn't someone you would identify as someone who would stop change or is looking to maintain the spirit of Washington," he said.
Lara Rausch, president of College Republicans, said she thinks it is nice the Democratic vice presidential nominee attended the university and is from her home state, but she still disagrees with his policies.
Rausch said many Delaware Republicans are excited their home senator is running for vice president, but she thinks most conservatives will still vote with their party.
"For the most part, I assume being Republicans, they'll vote for McCain," Rausch said.
Mike D'Armi, director of communications for College Democrats, said Americans will start to recognize Delaware's strengths because Biden is running for vice president and each political party's campaign manager attended the university.
"Delaware is on the map for the first time," D'Armi said. "We're going to have a University of Delaware grad in the White House."
He said many Delawareans are thrilled Biden is running for vice president.
"The state is electricity right now," D'Armi said. "The state hasn't been this happy in years."
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our feed
Contact us through email
Be the first to comment on this article!