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Biden By the Numbers: A Solid Choice

VP will bring Dems together and garner Independent votes

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 24, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Some argued Hillary Clinton was Barack Obama’s best VP choice because she could unite the Dems. But in crunching Rasmussen's favorable-unfavorable numbers, the New Republic finds Joe Biden can do that almost as well, while pulling in more independent voters and keeping Obama backers in the fold. Biden scores the fewest “unfavorable” ratings among Democrats, and the highest net score among Independents.

Moreover, imagining a scenario in which a “reasonable” number of McCain voters would vote Democrat based on Obama’s VP choice, while the same percentage of Obama voters would leave their candidate based on his selection, Biden holds up well. While he won’t do much to swing McCain backers, he does the best among potential VPs when it comes to holding onto Obama’s faithful, providing Obama’s best overall result, the New Republic finds.

Barack Obama and his vice presidential running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., appear together for the first time at a campaign stop Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, in Springfield, Ill.
Barack Obama and his vice presidential running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., appear together for the first time at a campaign stop Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, in Springfield, Ill.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Obama and his new running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, applaud as their wives take the stage at a campaign stop Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, in Springfield, Ill.
Obama and his new running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, applaud as their wives take the stage at a campaign stop Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, in Springfield, Ill.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Obama listens as running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., speaks at a rally in front of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.
Obama listens as running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., speaks at a rally in front of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Joe Biden • running mate • Election 2008 • poll numbers • vice presidential candidate

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