Saxman: Biden does not fit with Obama’s mantra of change
John McCain’s Virginia campaign co-chairman said Democratic nominee Barack Obama has nullified his calls for change in Washington by choosing a Beltway insider as his running mate — Sen. Joe Biden.
“He chose a Washington insider with 36 years of experience. That negates the change mantra,” said Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, McCain’s Virginia campaign co-chairman. “He has taken one attack off his ammunition. This is Washington politics as usual.”
And while Biden’s apparent strength for Obama is foreign policy, Saxman said it was McCain who was correct on the strategy in Iraq when he called for a surge in troops — a tack that since has proven successful.
As for whom McCain will choose as his vice presidential candidate, Saxman believes the running mate must be a formidable debater to match the skills of Biden.
“He is a seasoned politician who knows the issues backwards and front,” Saxman said of Biden.
Saxman said a couple of interesting potential choices would be either former Secretary of State Colin Powell or Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander of troops in Iraq, who is preparing to retire from service.
“Colin Powell transcends the social issues because of his resumé,” Saxman said. He said either Petraeus or Powell would bring foreign policy strength to the ticket.
Saxman does not think youth will be a determining factor in McCain’s choice either. The presumptive Republican nominee is 72.
“Age should not be a factor in this decision,” Saxman said.
Across Virginia, Republican notables weighed in on Biden’s selection by Obama in a release from the McCain campaign.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said that Biden “will do nothing to help Sen. Obama’s chances of winning in Virginia.” Bolling said McCain is the only candidate “who has the background, knowledge and experience to lead our country at a critical time in our history.”
Former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, a McCain Virginia campaign co-chairman, said the Biden selection reflected Obama’s concerns about his Virginia chances.
“Barack Obama spent two full days campaigning in Virginia, and his message was not resonating,” Kilgore said.
At least one area Republican gave Biden positive reviews. Chris Darden, chairman of the Waynesboro Republican Committee, said Biden was who Obama should have chosen.
“He does have experience in the things that Obama tends to be weakest on,” Darden said.
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Either the poster zarxo is stupid, and actually does not know that Obama is Christian, and has been all his life or he/she thinks the readers here are stupid enough to believe it and he/she is just filth. Either way, all true conservatives I know recognise this kind of crud as the Klansman fear mongering that it is. Sad to see it demonstrated in Waynesboro.
I totally agree. Who is Obama anyway? It seems that Biden should be running mate as President and Obama as Vice President, but who is Obama when Hillary has earned the way for V.P. rather than Obama—and who is Obama? As in literature, what is not “said” may carry more significance then what is “said.“ There hasn’t been enough said to validate Obama as a leading figure.—And who is Obama?—as the media does not focus on Obama, we do know that there is this mysterious tie with Obama and Oprah to that Chicago Church. Who is Obama?—when I clearly remember in the 80s-90s that it was “IN” to be “Muslim.“—Remember that million “Muslim” man march at D.C.? I do think that that Church was a pivotal part of that march.—could I be wrong?—oh but what if I was right?—and who is Obama?
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