Biden's aggressive vice presidential debate performance boosts Democratic base
OPINION - Biden, who has always been a strong, and underrated, debater, did something else: he burnished his own brand as, next to Bill Clinton, the strongest spokesman for Democratic populism among the Obama surrogates...
BIDEN: … And I love my friend here. I — I’m not allowed to show letters but go on our website, he sent me two letters saying, “By the way, can you send me some stimulus money for companies here in the state of Wisconsin?” We sent millions of dollars. You know…
(CROSSTALK)
RADDATZ: You did ask for stimulus money, correct?
BIDEN: Sure he did. By the way…
RYAN: On two occasions we — we — we advocated for constituents who were applying for grants. That’s what we do. We do that for all constituents who are…
(CROSSTALK) BIDEN: I love that. I love that. This was such a bad program and he writes me a letter saying — writes the Department of Energy a letter saying, “The reason we need this stimulus, it will create growth and jobs.” His words. And now he’s sitting here looking at me.
Democrats — many of whom were cringing at the possibility that he might drop a classic gaffe during the debate — were looking at Biden too, and it’s fair to say they liked what they saw. Biden accomplished his mission of firing up the base during the debate, and he won handily on the points most Americans are voting on: taxes, the future of Medicare and Social Security, who will control a woman’s healthcare decisions, and whether the stimulus created jobs. Ryan didn’t implode, and it’s fair to say the section on the attacks on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, as well as his personal accounting of his faith were strong moments for the Republican contender, but he clearly lost the debate.
And Biden, who has always been a strong, and underrated, debater, did something else: he burnished his own brand as, next to Bill Clinton, the strongest spokesman for Democratic populism among the Obama surrogates.
Now, the onus is on President Obama to build on Biden’s big night when it’s his turn at bat next Tuesday at Suffolk University.
UPDATE: the Obama campaign is already out with a video highlighting what it calls Ryan’s “thirsting for answers” on important issues in the campaign.
Follow Joy Reid on Twitter at @thereidreport
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