Biden says he and Obama ‘share a common story’

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Denver, Colo. — At first Joe Biden’s demeanor was calm and controlled as he made his first speech as the official Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Wednesday night.

It seemed political commentators were wrong when they predicted he would play the role of attack dog in the Obama campaign. But slowly, Biden’s voice got louder and angrier, plateauing when he told the audience, “John McCain was wrong, and Barack Obama was right,” about the war in Iraq.

“In the Senate, John sided with President Bush 95 percent of the time. Give me a break,” Biden said.

Republicans and analysts wondered if Biden would make a detrimental slip of tongue, but the only mistake Biden made was what he called a Freudian one: He referred to John McCain as George Bush.

Biden even embraced his previous, questionable behavior saying, “Failure at some point in everyone’s life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.”

Biden also emphasized his compatibility with the Obama campaign, citing he and Obama’s common, humble backgrounds, anti-Iraq war policies and belief in change.

“Barack Obama and I took very different journeys to this destination, but we share a common story,” Biden said.

After his speech Biden was joined on the stage first by Barack Obama, who made a surprise appearance, and then by his family. The convention’s band played “We are family.”

Biden was officially nominated as the Vice Presidential candidate Wednesday evening when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi suspended the convention rules and nominated Biden by acclimation instead of taking a vote.

Obama was also formally nominated yesterday, when Hillary Clinton put a stop to the state delegations’ roll call votes.

Clinton stopped the roll call after New Mexico. At that time she had received 341.5 votes and Obama had received 1,549.5 of the 2,210 needed.

Clinton received six of Kansas’ 37 votes.

— - Edited by Becka Cremer

Sen. Barack Obama picks Sen. Joe Biden ...

After months of speculation, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee announces his running ...

/news/2008/aug/23/sen_barack_obama_picks_sen_joe_biden_delaware_vp/

Letter: Obama the best choice for the ...

Sen. Barack Obama demonstrates the leadership and optimism needed in the next ...

/news/2008/feb/05/letter_obama/

Kansan bloggers' take on the prolonged primaries

Joshua Anderson, Andy Greenhaw and Kelsey Hayes discuss the ramifications of the ...

/news/2008/jun/13/kansan_bloggers_prolonged_primaries/

Student delegate details Democratic Convention

Clarissa Unger has spent time across the country campaigning for Barack Obama.

/news/2008/sep/02/student_delegate/

Moore reiterates Obama support at DNC

The representative for Kansas’ 3rd congressional district also says Sebelius has Cabinet ...

/news/2008/aug/29/moore/

Poole: How narrow victories will pile up ...

/news/2008/oct/06/poole_how_narrow_victories_will_pile_mccain/

Poole: Republicans' VP pick shattered the mold

By choosing Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain proved that he is ...

/news/2008/sep/09/poole_republicans_vp_pick_shattered_mold/

Professor to give lecture on campaign ads

The lecture will cover Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s campaign advertisements and ...

/news/2008/oct/10/campaign_ads/

Sen. John McCain chooses Gov. Sarah Palin ...

McCain announced his choice of Palin on Friday morning.

/news/2008/aug/29/sen_john_mccain_chooses_gov_sarah_palin_vp/

Edwards, Giuliani abandon race

Democrat John Edwards and Republican Rudy Giuliani have dropped out of the ...

/news/2008/jan/30/edwards_giuliani_abandon_race/

Cohen: Dems’ indecision may cost them

The DNC needs to sort out the nomination, or it may regret ...

/news/2008/apr/29/cohen_dems_indecision_may_cost_them/

Editorial: Why students should vote for Obama

The Kansan editorial board's endorsement

/news/2008/oct/29/obama/

Disappointment sets in for Republican supporters

GOP election watch parties break up early as Barack Obama defeats John ...

/news/2008/nov/05/disappointment_sets_republican_supporters/

Cohen: Debates didn’t show us anything new

/news/2008/oct/06/cohen_debates_didnt_show_us_anything_new/

Sebelius VP bid ends

Home state, lack of foreign policy experience keep Kansas governor from winning ...

/news/2008/aug/25/sebelius/

Dole speaks at RNC event

The former senator and presidential candidate backs McCain, slams Obama

/news/2008/sep/04/dole_speaks_rnc_event/

The Iraq War

The two candidates offer different views on the Iraq War.

/news/2008/nov/03/iraq_war/

Minster: Party does not recognize Republican principles

Republicans used to think government should allow citizens to be responsible for ...

/news/2008/mar/10/minster/

Sen. Brownback addresses RNC delegates

He says Gov. Sebelius would lose Senate race for his seat, endorses ...

/news/2008/sep/05/convention/

Nader speaks to Lawrence crowd

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader reminded listeners at Abe and Jake's Landing ...

/news/2008/oct/10/Nader/

Red and blue don't always mix

While U.S. politics are heating up headlines, politically mixed relationships are feeling ...

/news/2008/oct/23/red_and_blue_dont_always_mix/

Cohen: Sarah Palin who?

What was Sen. John McCain thinking when he chose the Alaskan governor?

/news/2008/sep/09/sarah_palin_who/

Sarah Palin makes for a fascinating, if ...

Since her elevation to the Republican ticket, the Alaskan governor has been ...

/news/2008/nov/03/sarah_palin/

Letter: Palin insulting to women’s causes

/news/2008/sep/04/letter_editor_palin_insulting_womens_causes/

A Q&A with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

Kansas' governor discusses the issues.

/news/2008/nov/03/q_gov_kathleen_sebelius/

Obama’s ‘flip-flop’ doesn’t deter supporters

The Democratic Presidential nominee opts out of public financing, becoming the first ...

/news/2008/jul/03/obama/

Sebelius persuades students to support Obama

Kathleen Sebelius spoke at the University on Monday about the upcoming Democratic ...

/news/2008/feb/05/sebelius_persuades/

Some who can’t vote still care

These international students followed the presidential elections though they weren’t able to ...

/news/2008/nov/13/some_who_cant_vote_still_care/

A new species on the loose at ...

/news/2008/aug/26/Cohen/

Ron Paul grants private interview to KU ...

Paul is speaking in Minneapolis this week at the ‘counter convention’ he ...

/news/2008/sep/03/convention/

Alaskan students weigh in on Palin

Students say she is a good governor but some think the vice ...

/news/2008/oct/02/alaskan_students_weigh_palin/

Supporters cheer after Obama is named President

Students and Lawrence residents celebrate at watch party, relishing in the historic ...

/news/2008/nov/05/obama_named_president/

Electoral Count: Obama projected to win presidency

Obama currently has 338 electoral votes. McCain has 156.

/news/2008/nov/04/presidential_election/

Hirschfeld: It’s not always bad to be ...

/news/2008/oct/27/single_issue_voters/

Clinton to concede tonight, end presidential bid

Obama’s newly secured superdelegates have caused Clinton to end bid

/news/2008/jun/03/clinton_concede_tonight_end_presidential_bid/

/comments/cr/33/8416/#c4316

Reichert: What your sex life and the ...

/news/2008/sep/08/reichert/

Poole: How over-regulation has ruined Wall Street

/news/2008/oct/20/poole_how_overregulation_has_ruined_wall_street/

Past, present, future presidents discussed

The four-part series, presented by journalists and speakers from across the country, ...

/news/2008/feb/25/dole/

Cohen: Democrats have plenty to laugh at, ...

From Hillary to Barack, the Dems are full of faults

/news/2007/sep/25/cohen_democrats_have_plenty_laugh_too/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID