Obama, Biden 60 Minutes Interview: Obama Explains Biden Pick, Reacts To Palin (VIDEO)

In his first reaction to the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate, Sen. Barack Obama tells 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft that she is an "up-and-coming public servant." Of his own choice for running mate, the Democratic presidential nominee says Sen. Joseph Biden "can step in and become president."

Obama and Biden sat down with Kroft Friday night in Pittsburgh for an interview to be broadcast on 60 Minutes this Sunday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Read the full story here.

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Watch the interview below.

Comments

[elikarplus]

Great interview. I also enjoyed this story...a personal encounter with Joe Biden: http://MyBidenStory.com

[chitown8]

Great interview. Boss thats old school.

O'Biden 08

[GuyFawkes]

Good interview. Much better than the touchy feely (i.e., phony) giggle fest that Kerry-Edwards did in 2004. These two seem to "get" it. Hated the "why aren't you more ahead in polls" question. But loved Obama's answer, even though I think he really wanted to say, "You check the electoral college polls, Steve?"

[jwatso7]

Unfortunately, as of today Obama has falled to 268 to McCain's 270. A punch in the gut. Obama's campaign and the Dems need to wake up FAST.

[GerryT]

Thank God!!!! (Really!) We can forget about all the conspiracy theories NOW!!!

[spyda]

The repubs are already saying that Sen.Biden better not rough her up or the people will go crazy!LOL I say if you can't stand the heat don't come into the kitchen!! First we can't question McCains war records or see them now they want to tell the Obama/Biden camp how to debate her11 I can't wait. OBAMA/Biden'08

[uheardme]

This sentiment is extremely sexist.
Senator Biden and Governor Palin better bring their A-game. This election is too important.

[GaiusLucilius]

But it's sooo easy to rebut that.

McCain Camp: "You're being rough on her. Aww poor widdle Sawah can't handle it!"
Response: We would not want to seem like we were condescending to her by excluding her from the real, tough political terrain. This debate recognizes men and women on an equal playing field.

I know that *I* would get mad if I were only lobbed softball questions when I first started out arguing back in my junior high debates. Guys forcefully (yet respectfully) rebutting my argument made me (a woman) stronger.

[sandrarita]

Frankly, I feel sorry for Biden having to face such a ditz in a VP debate. What an insult to his experience and intelligence as well as the intelligence of all 'thinking' Americans. I do hope President Obama provides funds for the education of dumbed down Republicans.

[DefeatedAnOfficer]

As a woman this meme really offends me. REALLY offends me. (I know it's coming from a lot of places so I'm not attacking you.) If Sarah Palin cannot handle a debate with Joe Biden, she doesn't deserve the job she's running for. Period.

I see some Republican women attempting to cry sexism whenever Palin is criticized and it makes me SO ANGRY because it trivializes the REAL sexism that still exists in the world.

[pacats]

C-SPAN is airing the speech at yesterdays rally by Obama and Biden.

[jhallbo]

They both look great in this interview. Like people you can trust.

[monyae]

IT WAS A SHORT BUT AWESOME INTERVIEW. JOE BIDEN, IF HE WERE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WOULD SAY HES A "REAL STAND UP GUY", AND HERE THAT IS THE BEST QUALITY A MAN CAN HAVE.

[monyae]

AND I LOVE WHERE HE CALLS OBAMA "BOSS". THATS CHARACTER! I HAVE ALOT OF RESPECT FOR THIS MAN.

[GuyFawkes]

Yeah. Very old school. But it works.

[pacats]

Just saw the 60 minutes interview. Obama and Biden make a strong team.

[Citizen08]

Let's see who the responsible man is, who did what.

Obama on Katrina
http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/when-the-cameras-are-off-barack-obamas-hurricane-katrina-record/

McCain on Katrina
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/24/flashback-as-katrina-raged-mccain-celebrated-69th-birthday-with-bush/

[CamJam]

Thank you for those links!

Tonight I was able to watch the full interview on CBS, and I am so impressed by Obama and Biden in this interview - a fantastic team that I will be proud to vote for come Nov 2008.

After hearing / reading all this INSANE cr@p about McC and and now his ridiculous choice for VP , (which boils my blood) watching Obama & Biden tonight really calmed me down.

[ifreez]

What the is wrong with democrats? No wonder the repugs laugh at them! With Iraq the focus was going into iraq in the first, but somehow the rupugs get the focus on, "The surge is working". Like, *?

The point is that the repugs claim to fame is that "both nominee and VP nominee are against the party, so vote for us again".

Why don't Dems make this an obvious talking point???

The Republicans are saying, "vote for OUR candidate, even though we implicitly admit we've been a disaster for the last 8 years; these people we are presenting to you are against us, so vote for us!"

TALK ABOUT THE JEDI MIND TRICK!

"Vote for our candidate, because they are against us, they voted against us, so vote for us again: they are good people, because the don't agree with us".

Is this not obvious?
They are clearly saying that the repug party is a bad choice, and has had bad policies.

It is a clear admission of guilt, and huge contradiction, but dems don't take advantage of it, or don't notice it. The oscure the better point to attack G.W.

The repugs say, "We admit we have bad policies, we admit we are a bad party when it come to the interest of the American people, so our clear selling point is that our candidate is against us, so vote for *us* again!"

I see this over and over again, and think, WT?!

[YouDisgustMe]

well said, barack!!

[IForgotMyName]

What a contrast between Senator Obama and McCain. Senator Obama carefully weighed his choice and chose the candidate he felt was best to govern. John McCain decided to pick someone for political reasons. I mean it is okay if he believes in first love but for picking Sarah Palin as VP after only meeting her once...tha­t says a lot about him.

[NoSpinTruthZone]

You truly believe that Obama chose Biden for anything other than political reasons?

I have a bridge for sale..

[Knowitall]

Perhaps you didn't notice--this is a POLITICAL contest. McCain made his ridiculous VP selection for POLITICAL reasons. Obama wanted a serious candidate with well known foreign policy and domestic credentials. McCain wanted to tap Hillary Clinton's "18 million cracks". Politics is the game, if you don't know how to play it, you won't get to Washington. Obama, Biden, and yes, McCain are very good at it. We'll see if Palin can hold up to it. If she doesn't, her national political career is as dead as Dan Quayles.

If you think anything else but politics is going on in Washington, you are very naive indeed.

[kamenwati]

A bridge to nowhere. That would be keeping with your comments here.

[IForgotMyName]

Well so far I haven't heard anyone - Republican or Democrat - doubt that Biden would have the qualifications to step in as president. Sarah Palin? Not so much...

[Liberal2]

Ummm, isn't government a political activity? You rethugs ain't too smart.

But I believe *YOU* think you have a bridge to sell, given your grasp on reality.

Of course, Bush may have selected Cheney for his corrupt principles. You rethugs use different metrics.

[uheardme]

Is that the bridge Palin supported before she was against it?

[playsindirt]

They both look so Presidential. McCain and Palin? Not so much.

[JustDealWithIt]

Biden needs to be careful in how he approaches the upcoming debate with her. I've never seen any footage of any gubernatorial debates that she may have been involved in or read any analysis but most commentators describe her as a good, tough debater. Biden can't come across as patronizing or even fatherly, which he has a tendency to do. Just stick to the issues and take her apart. And I don't want to hear any whining coming from her about how hard the media's coming at her; she's a big, bad "I am woman, hear me roar" and she's playing in the big leagues now. No time for whiners.

[mesmerize]

I agree. No whining. Women say they want to be treated fairly like men so here's her chance.

[Bronxcutie]

If she can't handle Joe Biden, how will she handle male world leaders?

[uheardme]

She and the right-wing will accuse Putin of being a "Sexist".

[robXdion]

Yeah, she's good only because the men she debates overreach and get too aggressive, then she comes off like the bigger adult or victimized woman. Just like how Hillary won her senate race and she was badly hoping Obama would do the same. Obama better school Joe on keeping his cool and not falling into that trap. There's only ONE VP debate.

[uheardme]

She is waving the GENDER CARD, isn't she?