Rasmussen: Biden a lukewarm choice
posted at 11:00 am on August 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Rasmussen test-polled Joe Biden as a running mate for Barack Obama, and clearly he is not about to set the world on fire. Biden gets a bare majority in his own party to support his selection, and women are the least enthusiastic of the demographics tested:
On the day that Barack Obama announced Joe Biden as his running mate, 39% of voters said he made the right choice. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 25% disagreed and another 35% are not sure.
Women are notably less enthusiastic than men—33% of women say Biden was the right choice while 27% disagreed. Men, by a 46% to 24% margin, said that Obama made the right choice. …
Not surprisingly, Democrats were more supportive of Obama’s decision than anybody else—52% of those in his party agreed with his pick while 19% disagreed. However, just 43% of Democratic women said the presumptive nominee made the best pick while 23% disagreed.
Looking at the crosstabs, Biden’s unenthusiastic response becomes even more clear. Among likely voters, Biden splits almost evenly on whether his selection makes voters more likely or less likely to support Obama, with 32% each and 30% saying no impact. Women are slightly less likely than more likely to vote for Obama with Biden as running mate (31%-29%).
In a huge blow to Obama, the age demographics play exactly against him. Biden produces an eight-point disadvantage on this same question among 18-29s, 39%-31%, and a 14-point gap for thirtysomethings, 37%-23%. The same age groups have large pluralities that don’t believe Biden is ready to be president, 47-32 and 46-28 respectively. Given that Biden has roughly the same kind of experience as Obama and a lot more of it, that may start these age groups reconsidering Obama’s own readiness for the presidency.
Not only has Biden not helped Obama, it looks like he’s actually damaging the ticket with his addition. He certainly hasn’t added any enthusiasm to the Democratic offering. Did Team Obama do any serious research on Biden and his effect before making this selection?
Update (AP): I don’t know if he’s actually damaging the ticket, but it’s true that he isn’t helping much (yet). Gallup has a new poll out noting that the net positive reaction for Biden is considerably smaller than for any other recent VP pick except Cheney and Quayle.
Blowback
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Do you believe in:
Surrender, Socialism & Taxes?
Vote Obama Bi(n La)den in 2008!
Dale in Atlanta on August 24, 2008 at 11:03 AM
It can’t be good when you listen to your V.P. choice with baited breathe waiting for him to say something stupid. My feeling is he won’t disappoint. Us.
Cindy Munford on August 24, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Biden will remind the youth of the teachers in their high schools who used to lecture them ad nauseum.
“Bueller, Bueller?“
Wethal on August 24, 2008 at 11:11 AM
The man ran for president and lost in the preliminaries. That should tell you something.
MaybeObama just wanted someone low key enough that he wouldn’t overshadow the main attraction. Someone who would blend into the shadows would have been preferable. Such a choice would make sense, if these were still the days where Obama could win just with himself on the ticket. Unfortunately, they’re not, but a man as arrogant as Obama wouldn’t realize that, would he?amkun on August 24, 2008 at 11:12 AM
As a McCain supporter, I think Biden is an excellent choice. I, for one, am looking forward to all the delightfully funny sound clips he’ll provide to make this interminably long presidential race more bearable. “Barack America” is only the beginning.
themediansib on August 24, 2008 at 11:12 AM
That should read “The man ran for president twice and lost in the preliminaries, twice.”
amkun on August 24, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Like I said yesterday, the youth vote evaporates when the candidate does something they don’t like. In Obama’s case, it was picking Biden.
Kafir on August 24, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Perhaps The One is now hoping Hillary’s name really does get placed in nomination for VP at Denver. Kind of a do over deal. Of course, he’d exchange the hilarity provided by Biden with something perhaps worse for him in office, but it all depends on how badly he wants to win. IMO, his selection of Biden sends a clear message of insecurity.
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Wait until he advocates partitioning Nebraska.
Just a dumb pick by Obama.
SteveMG on August 24, 2008 at 11:16 AM
If Obama and Biden win this thing, then this country will deserve what is going to happen. If they are able to convince the people that their lives suck so bad that they are the only hope, then so be it. Of course, McCain is like Biden in a way that they both enjoy rubbing prople the wrong way when the people can’t do anything about it.
volsense on August 24, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Rasmussen: Biden a lukewarm choice.
No, he’s more like a warmed-over choice.
Biden’s speech yesterday: Same song, different verse, it’ll never get better, it’ll only worse.
His BDS was in full throes as he blamed Bush for everything from high oil prices to people’s hang-nails forgetting, of course, to mention that he has been one of the prime obstructionist of Bush’s policies in Congress.
He had an great opportunity to raise the level of political discourse but, instead, decided to wallow in the mud of the Democrat blame-game.
Queen Pelosi and whore-house Reid must be having a collective orgasm right now.
pocomoco on August 24, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Why on earth did Obama think he needed an “attack dog”? The NY Times, MSNBC, AP, CNN and plenty others in the MSM are ready, willing and able to float and advance every conceivable line of attack against McCain. Now the Obama camp will have their finger prints on the attacks, some of which might backfire.
BuzzCrutcher on August 24, 2008 at 11:22 AM
If I thought that Sen. Obama would listen to Sen. Biden on foreign policy stuff I might be slightly less worried about him winning. Biden has had some tremendously bad ideas (splitting Iraq), but he’s had more exposure to the issues and could discourage some of the obvious rookie mistakes (meeting with hostile dictators without preconditions). Unfortunately, I think Obama’s ego sees putting Biden on the ticket as a way to reassure those idiot voters that can’t see Obama is right on everything.
If Biden is given opportunities to talk he may well sink them both. The wide smile while using shark-like verbal knife thrusts doesn’t always play well. Combine it with an enormous ego and lack of restraint on said ego….
Jill1066 on August 24, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I don’t imagine it will be long before the McCain team comes up with an ad showing how wrong Biden was about Iraq.
drjohn on August 24, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Exactly.
What does this do for Obama’s message of change?
Har.
drjohn on August 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM
You know how the lefty clowns send brownshirts and stooges to McCain appearances to ask questions which might elicit an embarrassing or angry reply?
Well, I hereby implore our agents to infiltrate Biden appearances. Your mission: to elicit gaffes.
Example: Senator Biden, as a long time democrat who is totally on board with hope and change, I’m also a guy who likes a good laugh. So my question is, which ethnic group do you enjoy being around most, and why?
jeff_from_mpls on August 24, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Obama feels that Biden makes him look more like the great speaker image that the MSM keeps pushing.
TooTall on August 24, 2008 at 11:32 AM
If Obama wanted someone to add votes to the ticket, there were a couple of choices out there. He went with Biden to balance the ticket between “hopenchange” and “boring old white guy who has been in the senate forever and will make sure that there is some hopenchange but not too much”.
Team Obama has probably had fairly candid conversations with Biden–giving him a script and telling him not to ad lib. My guess is that it won’t work. I think Biden has a compulsive need to hear himself talk and an unfounded confidence in the brilliance of his own wit.
Barry is supposed to have the spotlight to himself but my guess is that Biden will say something dumb soon.
dedalus on August 24, 2008 at 11:33 AM
That’a a good one! From now on I will refer to the Democrats as the SST Party–Surrender, Socialism & Taxes.
backwoods conservative on August 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
LOL. Couldn’t do much better than that. Joe would lunge at the bait like a hungry largemouth.
a capella on August 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Lukewarm. Pukewarm.
whitetop on August 24, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Let’s focus on Obama, shall we? Charles at LGF posted this lovely vacation photo:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/31027_Obama_Memorabilia
funky chicken on August 24, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Great question.
A. He’s wingin’ it…
Shivas Irons on August 24, 2008 at 11:39 AM
The “O” is for Obvious black hOle.
“Baroque” Obama with his changing mantra in commotion was doomed a loser by realistic polls. So the DNC, trying their hardest to package a visual duplicate of the wise white old man McCain, picked a sicker and older Washington Insider, J’Biden with his double aneurysm hangover.
Imitation and flattery.
Biden is the original Pepsi generation.
But McCain is the “real thing”, the authentic maverick with or without an ostentatious VP. Since the democrats showed their hand holding a cheap xerox impersonation ticket pick, McCain realizes his own innate strengths as per REAL public polling (despite MSM coverage twists).
McCain can literally choose whomever he wants, rather than attempt to placate an imagined but nonexistent public “need” imagery beyond THE ECONOMY, STUPID.
The RNC better keep hold on those horns for ENERGY NOW and the industrial label PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA as the Republican domestic mantra. Broadcasting Czarina Nancy and Princess Caroline are singing sirens tempting voters to crash America against democrat rocky mountain cliffs mouthing Republican issues as their bate and switch lyrics.
maverick muse on August 24, 2008 at 11:40 AM
What interesting is how does Obama say that being a Long term Washington insider is a bad thing… and then choose one as his running mate?
How can he Dis McCain for lobbying ties, with Biden on his ticket?
How can he make AGE an issue, when Biden is only like 4 years younger than Mccain…
Very interesting choice (as in the Chinese curse of “may you live in interesting times…)
Romeo13 on August 24, 2008 at 11:48 AM
And yet, few remember him except politic wonks
Biden can be dubbed the ‘forgettable man’
He is zero threat to Obama being number one which may be Obama’s requirement
My memories of Biden are his declarations of self importance concerning foreign policy although I cannot recall a specific word he said.
Did Obama believe Biden talking himself up as a foreign policy expert?
Naw, no one can be that stupid
entagor on August 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
I was watching a Senate Judiciary commmittee meeting on Cspan maybe 10-15 years ago, Biden as chair, Hatch as ranking member. They were in session, and Hatch said something, and Biden turned to him, mad as hell, gritted his teeth, and said “if you say anymore, I’m going to CUT you right off!”. Kind of insane-like. And Hatch replied in his calm measured way but without any hint of backing down that he would not be silenced and then briefly made his case again. At the time I wondered, is this behavior becoming of a chair of a major Senate committee, in session, doing their business, interviewing witnesses? It’s like he lost it for a moment. The guy has a temperment problem.
Paul-Cincy on August 24, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Obama’s first major decision. So we can expect such mediocrity from him when he’s prez too? Is the bloom off the rose yet? Hopenchange. Superstar!
Paul-Cincy on August 24, 2008 at 12:03 PM
.
Yeah, but Cheney had the advantage of no ambition for the top job, and Quayle has a higher IQ
Think_b4_speaking on August 24, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Actually, should that not be a small relief? If all his decisions as President turn out to be mediocre, then he won’t do much damage in the four years he’ll get.
Or am I hoping, now?
OldEnglish on August 24, 2008 at 12:33 PM
How can a young stoner tres chic on board for the Messiah the Lightworker get hot to trot over their weird uncle joining the campaign?
sven10077 on August 24, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Greasy Joe is the VP on the ticket to hold an insecure, DNC puppet, great teleprompter reading, Barack’s hand. That Obama is indeed a DNC puppet is proven with the choice of the senior DNC politburo operative Biden.
Speakup on August 24, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Obama has one message towards McCain, which is that he’s too hold. Then he picks a white-headed, old-grouch to be his running mate?
Thank you, Omama. Thank you.
Hening on August 24, 2008 at 12:51 PM
When people that support Obama see just how assertive Biden can be in defense of Obama demographics will change. Rasmussen is describing a snapshot and trying to pretend that attitudes don’t change during presidential campaigns. Supporters become more ardent supporters and swing voters go to who they are most confident in. Biden will help some people be more confident in Obama because he speaks with a lot of confidence. He’s a liberal Cheney…well actually looking at Cheney’s record as Commander in Chief and Vice President he is rather liberal so Biden is like Cheney but more to the left. When Bush picked Cheney people were saying the same criticisms about him that they are using on Biden. I’m really starting to think both sides just have identical plastic cards on their forearms that backup quarterbacks use to call plays and just used the canned criticisms on both sides. It’s really kind of boring after you follow it ten years or more.
LevStrauss on August 24, 2008 at 2:33 PM
LevStrauss, most who’d support Obama, already did. The holdouts are called “tough” for good reasons. Biden won’t sway them. He’s an old and known ‘commodity’. It’s Obama’s job to hook them, or they won’t be.
Entelechy on August 24, 2008 at 2:58 PM
If not for an acrimonious, bitter fight for the nomination, Hillary would be the pick instead of Biden.
If not for an adultery scandal, John Edwards would be first choice after Clinton.
So the third or fourth choice is suddenly the man to rally around? If I were a Democrat I’d be crying right now. I’m getting a few sniffles already as a Repub waiting for McCain to spoil the ticket.
Doug on August 24, 2008 at 3:32 PM
This is actually a brilliant move by the Obama campaign!
Biden is so incredibly self-absorbed, astonished with his own brilliance, pompous, doofy and arrogant, that, by comparison, Odumbo will come off as a (gasp) reasonable statesmen (if the state were East Germany in 1961, of course.)
Biden is a distraction, under control, an releasable at will. His ability to gaffe his way into making Barack look intelligent is unquestionable!
Biden will be the “doofing horse”, rather like a stalking horse, only asinine, long-winded and dull.
Lightworker, you never cease to amaze me, and I’m sure you will confound the stupid with your perspicacity.
“Clean & Jerk ’08″ will be the new bumper sticker.
heldmyw on August 24, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Barry & Joe 2008
The Empty Suit and the Hair Club.
Be prepared to be bored into submission.
profitsbeard on August 24, 2008 at 4:24 PM
This is not the Hope and Change I thought I knew.
Kafir on August 24, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Did anyone check with Rev. Wright to see if Biden has his blessing, or is he still stuck in the wheel well under the bus?
pilamaye on August 24, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Biden is a disappointment when one considers what we were promised. We were led to believe that Obama’s running mate would be edgy and not part of the DC establishment. Instead we got a variation on McCain (DC insider with real credenitials).
Put another way, Obama promised us Bananna’s Foster in his VP pick. Banana’s Foster is presented with full flourish where the rum and butter and sugar are set aflame over the dish with the result of a rich dish that has a warm carmalized sugar over cool ice cream and bananna. Instead of that Biden gives us a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a squirt of chocolate syrup. No excitement at all!
highhopes on August 24, 2008 at 9:30 PM