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Biden Complicates McCain's Veep Calculus

Dem's strengths expose key gaps in armor of Republican's rumored short-listers

By Michael Foreman, Newser User

Posted Aug 27, 2008 11:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – Joe Biden presents a problem for John McCain, Jeanne Cummings notes on Politico. “McCain knows Biden well," says one Republican insider. "He knows how good he is as a knife fighter." Stacked up against Biden, all of the rumored GOP short-listers reveal potentially fatal flaws:

Mitt Romney: Considering Biden's middle-class roots, the multimillionaire former governor could undermine McCain's claims of Obama elitism.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Though happy to parrot McCain's talking points, the younger Minnesotan can't match Biden's experience in foreign affairs and partisan debate.
Tom Ridge: The former Homeland Security chief, and Pennsylvania governor, supports abortion rights—a stance that could overshadow his national security cred with hardcore conservatives.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman: The Connecticut independent and McCain are close, but Lieberman's Democratic past will alienate Republicans.

[Images (4)]

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Barack Obama and his vice presidential running mate Sen. Joe Biden outside the Old State Capitol, Aug. 23, 2008, in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo, file)

Mitt Romney on ABC's This Week, Aug. 17, 2008. Romney's millionaire status could undermine McCain. (AP Photo, file)

Tim Pawlenty speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, Aug. 6, 2008. The Minnesota governor can't match Biden's experience. (AP Photo, file)

Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Tom Ridge attend a town hall meeting, Aug. 12,2008 in York, Pa. Neither sit well with serious conservatives. (AP Photo, file)

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McCain knows Biden well. He knows how good he is as a knife fighter. He’ll take McCain apart. - Anonymous Republican operative

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Biden Complicates McCain's Veep Calculus