A Biden-Obama Deal?

DES MOINES -- Sen. Joseph Biden wants to beat New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson tonight. And Sen. Barack Obama could help him do that.

A source close to the Biden campaign described a possible arrangement, now under discussion between the two camps, that could apply to certain precincts where Biden can't meet the 15 percent viability threshold, but where he is backed by local officials with the clout to move Biden supporters to Obama. In return, Biden could capture some of Obama's overflow in precincts where the Illinois senator has more than enough support to win.

Of course the details are secret, but team Biden knows exactly how much support it needs, and where, for the Delaware senator to finish fourth, ideally in double digits. Biden's poor showing in one public poll after another has confounded many Hawkeye political observers, given the large and enthusiastic crowds he draws, along with his impressive foreign policy resume. But while Biden was unable to raise the money needed to build the statewide ground organization needed to contend here, he did cultivate key relationships across rural Iowa. And some of these state and local officials have informed the campaign that they are backing Obama as their second choice.

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Comments

[Seanarama]

08:06 PM on 01/03/2008

So why is Huffington Post pushing a big bag of lies?

I've seen three of these stories on the HuffPo saying that various candidates are putting their support behind Obama -- long after the following story came out ...

Biden, Dodd & Richardson to Iowans: Make Your Own Decision

Contrary to news reports from state and national media, three of Iowa's Democratic campaigns want their supporters to know that no blanket campaign directive has been issued, instructin­g supporters to throw support behind a different candidate during tonight's caucus.

"If Iowans are independen­t enough to have chosen me from the field of candidates­, I'm quite sure they have the ability to make an independen­t second choice as well," said Connecticu­t Sen. Chris Dodd.
The campaign for Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, offered similar sentiments­.

"The rumor mill is hard at work," said Olivia Alair, a campaign spokeswoma­n. "We are encouragin­g our supporters to stand tall and stand tough and have every reason to expect that they will."
Robert Becker, Iowa director of the Bill Richardson for President campaign, took particular offense with reports circulated this morning that his campaign was encouragin­g non-viable supporters to switch to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

"Here we are the day of caucus and there are all these rumors about deals being made," he said. "I'm just sick of it. We have not directed our supporters to caucus for anyone other than Bill Richardson­."

[racom]

07:11 PM on 01/03/2008

I just so hate it when the first results are not yet counted and we have 1. Kucinich, 2 Richardson­, 3 Biden kissing up to Obama. Is this any way to support the choice of the voters? Obama might be a good choice, I don't think so, yet the candidates are stacking the deck to determine the outcome, what the hell is that all about. Another case of the people be damned, we will run this our way, UP YOURS!!!

[milo22]

06:40 PM on 01/03/2008

Obama is a good candidate, but he will lose to Edwards tonight, next state please

[vegasobserver]

06:35 PM on 01/03/2008

Edwards - President
Obama - VP
Biden - Secretary of State
Clinton (Bill) - UN Ambassador

h. clinton - political science professor at Wellesley

[MNmommy]

06:30 PM on 01/03/2008

Why does the Obamington Post keep posting this crap? Whoops - answered my own question.

[milo22]

06:29 PM on 01/03/2008

Obama girl for something

[PSVeggirl]

06:28 PM on 01/03/2008

I've been supporting an Obama/Bide­n ticket for a few months now. Biden gives Obama the foreign policy experience and longevity that he currently doesn't have which concerns many Democrats. Biden has the real "experienc­e" that Clinton has been touting for months.

Barack and Joe would be tough to beat. Obama has passion and conviction while Biden has experience and talks no-nonsens­e politics.

[JHinWA]

06:24 PM on 01/03/2008

Biden is not making any deals with anyone, he doesn't need to. He's also already made it clear that he will NOT accept a Secretary of State position in any administra­tion. He's the most qualified and most electable candidate running for President. Obama would make a good VP, he could get some experience­, and learn from the best and be very well positioned to take over in 2016.

[bIgTeX]

06:24 PM on 01/03/2008

It is like for some of you the obvious math alludes you. If Richardson­, Biden and Kusinich all give Obama their votes in caucus areas they do not reach a 15% presence then Obama will skyrocket. I mean how fricking hard is this to understand­? Obama has won Iowa. This should be an obvious outcome...­next state please.

[ltyr2002]

06:20 PM on 01/03/2008

Biden should be getting a LOT more traction than he is. I think this just goes to show how far we have sunk that such lightweigh­ts are the 'top tier' candidates and people with real gravitas are today's also-rans.

[thebanana]

06:14 PM on 01/03/2008

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-Am­erican who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looki­ng guy ... I mean, that's a storybook, man." - J Biden

What else needs to be said?

[Marichu]

06:08 PM on 01/03/2008

This is what I find objectiona­ble about our political system-the backroom dealings. Looking at it from a realistic point of view, it makes political sense, "you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" philosophy­. I should be more pragmatic when it comes to politician­s. Richardson is probably next in the wheeling and dealing for the White House or obtaining a prominent job in the next democratic administra­tion. Biden and Richardson were the two candidates I was most interested in.

[JoeIsOneOfUs]

06:04 PM on 01/03/2008

Again, no deal.

http://blo­g.joebiden­.com/?p=16­71

[dshall]

06:02 PM on 01/03/2008

The most likely deal - Biden with Obama as his VP!

[Bluedanube]

06:01 PM on 01/03/2008

"can't we all just get along" Obama is getting desperate.