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

[Citizen08]

Did you see them in Ohio today

They didn't even mention her!

Obama just said I have travel throughout the United State, well except Alaska, and then everyone, all 20,000 people started to "Laugh" Obama and Biden Chuckled and than Obama said Maybe I should go there! It was perfect!

[lissak]

I was there today. They were great!

[firewmn]

He/Obama is on the right track with this defense.. Ignore the competion..it really pisses' em off..

DO not acknowledge them.. it piss'em off..

Do not mention the other guy... it pisses'em off.

the temperment of that old guy will blow a gasgit.

[StillIRise]

If Senator Obama had chosen the equivalent of Sarah Palin for his running mate, the Republicans and the media would be all over him! They had the AUDACITY to criticize him for choosing Senator Biden because Biden is TOO EXPERIENCED! And now the GOP and its media pundits are trying to defend and spin the INEXPERIENCE of Senator McCain's choice!

[kay]

Because they're being dolts about "change".

Joe Biden is certainly, unquestionably, a "change" from the lunatic Right wingers that have been trashing the country for 8 years.

Yet, conservatives insist that because they RECOGNIZE HIS FACE he can't be.

They can't be that literal, right? They can't be thinking that what we need are NEW lunatic Right wingers, like Palin? Because that's not a "change".

[LaShon]

It's the first time I've enjoyed watching Fox News during this election coverage. The news anchors are going out of their way to compensate for McCain's choice....I LOVE IT!

[kay]

Joe Biden has "fake listening expression" down to a science :)

Frown, look at speaker, shake head wisely.

[SurrealPumpkin]

He and Obama can probably prompt each other.

[kay]

180,000 votes might not win in a big state congressional district.

That's Palin's VOTE TOTAL to be governor.

[teapartydude]

Jeesh, you're so smart aren't you? I bet you have a Ph.D in being a goddam idiot!

[kay]

I like him, actually. I think he'll be a great VP. He does the same thing in Senate hearings. Fake listening is an art :)

Come on. He's heard Obama answer questions a million times already. He has to drift off or he'd go stark raving mad.

[Yuma]

teapartydude:
Love your post!

[SwingVoter]

+5, LMAO

[FollowTheLeader]

palin gov debate 2006

http://palintology.com/2006/08/08/decision-2006-republican-candidate-round-table/

[kay]

It's wild that you can become governor of a state when only 180,000 people voted for you.

Obama's already racked up 18 million. That's not even counting the elections in Illinois :)

[Chillinout]

I tried to watch those videos, but that shrill voice of hers drives me bananas. I just can't take it. If she were to somehow become VP, that voice alone would drive me to immigrate to Canada.

[gemgal]

It finally hit me who she sounds like...... Frances McDormands character in "Fargo"

[rosal]

McConfused/Munchkin 08

[Rogue55]

LOL. I had the same reaction. I grew up in Minnesota and that sounds like a Minnesota accent to me....yet she's lived all but 3 months of her life in Alaska. Weird. It may be shallow, but I couldn't take listening to that shrill voice and accent.

[IndependentTogether]

Especially, when weighed against McCain's VP pick antics, Obama/Biden looks infinitely more impressive. McCain and his campaign have done nothing but make a mockery of the process and the highest office in the land. Meanwhile, Obama continues display his great judgment and high reverence for the presidency and its history.

Even Republicans, while they take jabs at him, have to see that Obama is the right person for the job. When all is said and done I suspect that when they get in the voting booth, it's not going to be as easy as they think to pull the lever for McCain.

[GaryWolf]

Obama/Biden convey a definite sense of gravitas. These are men who are serious about the positions of President/Vice-President and the issues they will be confronting. In contrast, the announcement of the McCain/Palen ticket reminded me of a rally for Student Council President. They look like they are treating this as a popularity contest. All the reasons that conservatives have for putting Palin on the ticket have nothing to do with her abilities or skills as a Governor (which are questionable), they are all about the popularity she may or may not have with certain voter groups. Is this what politics has come to in America? I hope the American people have grown smarter than the cynical Rove politics of the last 8 years.

[ebanks84]

We need some laws that says you can't pick a VP that NOBODY KNOWS :)

[EdgarPost]

Man Obama is Chillin in this interview. Its like he is saying to the interviewer "if you think I have girl problems I feel bad for you son, Ive got 99 problems but Palin aint one HIT ME".

The dude is cool. He has probably worked out how to handle this situation already

[CindyM2008]

They really look good together. Like two buddies that have each other's back. Same with Jill and Michelle. They all seem to get along well.
GOBama/Biden 08

[kesiac]

Oh you Palins do like to leverage you power.
http://openthread.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/29/155145/681/530/579154
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/shadow_governor

[CamJam]

Hmmmm interesting. I've not read about this.... Thank you for the links.

Either McC's camp did not really look into all this, or didn't care, or feel Palin fits perfectly in the Bush/ Cheney/McC type.

Yikes! the more I find out the more I want to run away as fast and far away as I can. Sad part is, I doubt the media will bring this up... if they do, they'll make it as no big deal and sweep it under the rug. I haven't been able to trust MSM since at least 9/11.

[docallen001]

Repub idea of vetting potential VP candidate. Question One - are you in jail? If answer to question one is no, question two is have ever been in jail or convicted of a felony. If answer to both questions are no, fit to be the VP and if necessary next US President.

[Roger Lakins]

Obama is one classy gentleman. How I hope he keeps himself above the foolish contra-hominem smears and ridiculous personal attacks for which the Republicans are so well known. He out-classed Hilary and Bill to get to this point and can lead us in a new direction if he just stays himself. Biden is a good choice. Let's hope that the crazy bishops of his church don't try to sabotage him over their one item agenda.

[GraciousWinner]

Yeh he a classy gentleman .Look how classy and gentlemanly he was against Alice Palmer
and Ryan

[All4One08]

Obama is a thoughtful, wise, responsible, intellect, and someone that actually put Country-first in his “first major decision!

[XME]

So true...McCain's first major decision only proved that he cares more about getting elected than making sure the best qualified person would take his place if something happened to him. Fact is that if the MOST important thing to Obama was getting elected, he would have made Clinton his VP. He choice proved that he considered so much more, including who he could be most effective working with. McCain had failed miserably on the judgement question. The last thing I want in a president is a "maverick" who "shoots from the hip" and who puts his trust in a choice of someone to run the country in someone he'd only met once!

[GraciousWinner]

Oh you said that ! I thought it was Bubba. That naughty Bubba stealing peoples words
like Jobo Biden

[swift goat pet for truth]

Obama and even Biden should just take the high road on this.
Things like the following are going to go viral.

“Alaska State Senate President Lyda Green (R): “She’s not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president? Look at what she’s done to this state. What would she do to the nation?” (Green is from Palin’s home town of Wasilla.)”

“Alaska House Speaker John Harris (R): “She’s old enough. She’s a U.S. citizen.” “

(Please notice the (R) by their names)

“After extensive news coverage about all this nasty behind-the-scenes scandal, which is definitely NOT squeaky clean, Palin’s approval ratings fell to 67%, still high, but a far cry from the 90% number that’s being thrown around so glibly by the Republicans today. Alaskans are quickly becoming disillusioned once again.”

Thanks to an interesting Alaskan blog Mudflats:
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/local-reaction-to-the-palin-bombshell/

[Citizen08]

EVERYONE DON’T WORRY!

Joe Biden is an Extremely Charming Man, he will do just Fine, they will just Stick to the issues and policy differences with McCain, and he can throw a “soft and effective” blow with his wit and charm!

Believe me the two of them are just going after McCain and they will ignore her and that’s the best strategy!

Did you see them today in Ohio? They didn't even mention her,
Obama just said "I have travel through out the United State", well except Alaska, I have been there yet and then everyone all 20,000 people started to "Laugh" O and Biden Chuckled and than Obama said Maybe I should go there! It was perfect!

[drzoon]

read the ethics bill that Barack wrote and got passed in the Senate. It was the first thing he did. As a matter of fact, when he showed up the first day.. he had a gang of freshman senators and a few old-timers on board to get it pushed through right away.

try telling me that taking a free meal or worst yet a free golf trip to some island from a thirty year senator is not almost impossible. that ... is reform!

not some moose town and state where everyone is pretty much a hick!

i know.. i lived in both seward and cordova! and if you've got an IQ over 50 you can be king of any hamlet in that state.. much less gov!

[Forsetti]

Perhaps now P.U.M.A. can stand for "Presidential Understudy My A**"

[atila]

He is the most intelligent candidate,he showed an amazing judgment when he picked Joe Biden as his VP and now he answer about Palin and without thrash her he already made the contrast between one of the most experimented politician in US and Ms Palin....i feel sorry for Mccain already....

[MissingAmerica]

If anyone can start pulling us out of the hole the Bush/Cheney gang has dug for us, it is Obama and Biden. They are intelligent, experienced, articulate and command respect.

As for the GOP, well, I'm still hoping that I wake up in the morning and find that this news was actually the result of a bit of bitter porridge or a bad piece of watermelon.

[SurrealPumpkin]

maybe that mooseburger was a bit gamey.