Why did Barack Obama choose Joe Biden as his running mate?

Answer 1

To give himself a reassuring, electable, white face which would bring in more white votes.

Additional Answer: I will not agree or disagree with the previous answer. I will simply say that, in any given campaign, a candidate's choice of Vice Presidential runners must be based on simply more than 'a white face'. I am not Obama myself, so I can only speculate. However, I imagine that the most logical reason for his recruitment of Biden would be based on A) History of Biden's political career B) Biden's illustrated history of innovative ideas and concepts developed/promoted and the success rate and benefit to the American People of those ideas and concepts. C) Biden's ability to work one-on-one with Obama with regard to a collective vision for change for the United States. In additon, Joe Biden is highly respected, not because he is white, but because he well respected for his mastery of Foreign Policy Issues. (Something this country could benefit greatly from during these times). Personally, I think chalking anything as significant as the Presidential Election of the United States up to 'race", whether it be white, black, or green, is a great insult to the intelligence of the American people. Again, this question was answered without sources and not being based on any fact, is simply my opinion.

Answer 2

Choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate was apparently meant to accomplish the following:

# Rally the conservative base without alienating the center. # Increase support among white women, many of whom may have been disappointed by Senator Clinton's loss # Defend against Obama's framing himself as the Change candidate and McCain as a third term of George W Bush. Reposition the campaign with McCain and Palin as the Reformers and Obama / Biden as the Establishment. # Generate a lot of excitement and press coverage. He seems to have succeeded in all of these points.

Answer 3

In choosing their running-mate, presidential candidates tend to pick people who are a bit of a contrast to themselves, and can make up for perceived shortcomings. Also, vice-presidential candidates often are meant to cater to voters from a different region, age group, sex, or any other relevant demographic.

During his presidential campaign, President Obama was facing a lot of criticism, particularly from his opponent John McCain, for his lack of experience which supposedly made him unqualified for the job of president. One may recall, for instance, the much discussed "3 AM phone call" add run by the Republican Party. In choosing Joe Biden as his running mate, Obama was able to cater to an older demographic, but also add someone with years of experience in foreign policy. Obama's pick was therefore intended to make his campaign more rounded.

Answer 4

Joe Biden was one of the contenders for the 1988 Democratic Party Presidential Nomination, which went to U. S. Senator from Massachusetts Michael Dukakis.

Joe Biden was the Democratic Party Vice Presidential Nominee in 2008 and 2012. He was elected in 2008, and he is the forecasted winner of the 2012 election (it will be official when the electoral votes are counted on January 6, 2013).

Vice President Biden's reason for running is probably the same as that of every modern U. S. vice presidential candidate: The presidential nominee asked him to.

Answer 5

He thought he could win and that he was qualified. He proved the former. We shall see about the latter.

Answer 6

He was black