August 23, 2008 - 12:51pm
News

Analysts say Biden could help Obama in N.H. for different reasons

New Hampshire political analysts are unsure has to the impact that Barack Obama's decision to have Joe Biden as his running-mate will have in the Granite State.

Dean Spiliotes, political analyst at NHPoliticalCapital.com, says Biden could help with independent voters, while Dante Scala, political professor at University of New Hampshire, thinks Biden will unify a generational divide in the Democratic Party.

"In the New Hampshire Democratic Party there is something of a generational split between younger, more progressive, more upscale Democrats, who I'd say are Obama Democrats and then older, longer-standing, more traditional Democrats," Scala told PolitickerNH.com. "Biden could help bridge the gap between those two groups and perhaps have some trickle-down effect with other voters."

Scala added that Biden's appeal is to unify the party more than helping with attracting independent voters.

Spiliotes though said that Biden's foreign policy credentials will appeal to independent voters.

"With some independents Biden brings security to the ticket," he said. "This will provide an anchor for people."

Spiliotes also said the pick highlights two questions: "Does this undercut at all the message of change and does Biden put his foot in his mouth."

Brian Lawson is a PolitickerNH.com Reporter and can be reached via email at brian.lawson@politickernh.com.

Comments

Ray Buckley


Do you think Ray Buckley disagrees with Joe Biden's statement that Milosevic is a war criminal?

08/23/08 3:17 pm

Ugh


This signals the end of Obama's chances to win because it seals the deal as far as he being a phony baloney creation of the press. Joe Biden? What a joke!

08/23/08 3:38 pm

Funny. When Biden speaks


Republicans embrace political correctness.

Funny? Sad? You make the call.

08/23/08 5:47 pm

Just kidding


Biden "helps" Obama in NH? The tiny chance that BO had to win NH has just flickered and died. By allowing his pride to dictate his VP choice, The One has just allowed four runs (and probably a lot more) to score for the GOP. Thanks Barry! Can't wait to watch the results of this move unfold in Denver. Should be a great, unifying event with half the room full of Clintonistas.

08/23/08 7:23 pm

NH


This is the best choice Obama has made and I will join the team for change

08/23/08 10:40 pm

This is priceless. Biden is


This is priceless. Biden is the perfect compliment to osama-the stuffed shirt to fill the empty suit.

08/24/08 10:10 am

Freedom of Speech


should be metered with the responsibility to think.

Mark, your rhetoric is shallow and likely below you.

Saw your man with the crazy eyes this morning. Thin on policy, thick on truthiness. That must be why you love him so.

08/24/08 9:33 pm

Get fit.


Who cares, you all need to go outside and get some excercise, and enjoy the weather before the snow arives.

08/25/08 12:05 am

Biden is God's gift...


to those if us who know obama is a disaster waiting to happen. Keep in mind that I think both candidates suck-obama just sucks worse. Picked up the following gem this morning and it is spot on. The dems are an amazing tribe...

“[Barack] Obama represents the merger of two of the worst aspects of Democratic politics—’60s radicalism and corrupt Chicago machine politics. With the addition of Slow Joe Biden to the ticket, Obama has added to his unsteady candidacy an epic amount of Beltway cluelessness and arrogance unsupported by anything except frequent flier miles and Delaware’s love for a chuckle-headed fellow with a big smile... I was worried that the Dems had pointed out to Obama that his serial gaffing had brought the campaign close to a break point and that he needed Hillary. I was worried he’d actually go find Anthony Zinni or Sam Nunn or someone of accomplishment and purposefulness in foreign affairs. [Jim] Webb would have been hell on the stump. [Tim] Kaine or [Evan] Bayh would have put different states into play. [Kathleen] Sebelius was a wild card. But Biden?... Put Biden’s obvious flaws aside and ask yourself how in the world Obama decided to go with Biden, and you’ll quickly realize that the Democratic nominee must have been impressed with Biden on the long campaign trail of 2007 and 2008—even though voters weren’t and even though Biden has no accomplishments of note after 36 years in the Senate. Biden talked a great game and dropped some very interesting place names—and this impressed Obama. Talking the talk has been the key to Obama’s success, and in Slow Joe he found an older, far better traveled but equally prolix gas bag... For Obama, it is all about politics and words, elections and poses. Slow Joe is the perfect running mate on a perfect ticket for a party betting on wind to solve the energy crisis.” —Hugh Hewitt

08/25/08 9:20 am

A half notch above Rush


Hewitt?

If your gonna borrow thoughts, reach higher.

But then you have contempt for both parties. Wallet politics?

Muck stinks.

08/25/08 12:09 pm

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