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Biden 'to be replaced by Hillary' on Obama ticket
Friday, 26 September 2008
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Several US websites are today claiming vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden is set drop out of the US election to be replaced by Hillary Clinton on the Democratic presidential ticket.
Biden, running as Barack Obama's number two, is said to be ready to drop out due to health reasons.
The 61-year-old had surgery ten ago years for two brain aneurysms and could leave the race after the vice presidential debates take place on 2 October, leaving the position open for Mrs Clinton to step up.
Pundits say the huge media interest surrounding John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin has prompted a rethink in the Democratic camp.
The Obama campaign's official website 'Fight the Smears' - set up to suppress any damaging internet rumours - has not addressed the latest reports, fuelled speculation that there may be some truth in the rumour.
The only statement Obama's camp have released is to say that Biden's medical records will be released shortly.
Biden has been responsible for a number of gaffes in the last two weeks, including admitting his own ad campaign was 'terrible' in a CBS news interview and at one stage even acknowledged that Hillary Clinton may have been a safer bet for Obama's vice president position.
However Democratic supporters have dismissed claims that Biden may drop out.
Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said: "It's crazy...it's just not going to happen."
Christopher Hull, presidential scholar at Georgetown University in Washington DC said: “Joe Biden is not that big a liability. Joe Biden was arguably the most experienced candidate in the [Democratic primary] race.”
“Joe Biden, of course, has shot off his mouth and gotten himself in trouble,” he added. “It’s Joe Biden we’re talking about.”
Obama has stood firm on his decision to install Biden as his number two, telling NBC's Today Show on Tuesday this week: 'Joe Biden is also an outstanding public servant and I am very proud of the choice that I made.' He added that he's a 'great admirer of Senator Clinton's' and hopes she will remain 'a close adviser'.
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27 Comments
Wheredoes this stuff come from?
Posted by Beth da Silvva | 04.10.08, 17:00 GMT
What must be taken into account with this issue, is the fact whether it be Palin, Biden, or Clinton. Vice Presidents are not the main issue in this election, and for either political party the vice president is not going to impose their believes onto a President who may disagree with them on key issues. So if it so happens that on October 5th Biden takes a bow and Clinton steps in, it will not be because of flip flopping, it will be of course a strategic decision made by the Democratic Party as a whole to try and ensure Barack Obama wins this election. Similarly, McCain has already made this strategic move when he announced Governor Palin as his running mate (It has brought enormous coverage and in the end put him in the lead up until the most recent debate). Overall, please focus on the Presidential candidates and their issues. Our current Vice President has been in a bunker for nearly a year and it has made little difference.
Posted by ryan Odell | 02.10.08, 20:18 GMT
A perfect example of Obama making the wrong choice.....again. And there are people who actually expect him to make good choices if/when he gets to the White House?!?!? Flip flop, flip flop....its neverending with Obama. You just don't know what to expect!
Posted by Jane | 30.09.08, 18:16 GMT
Whether it is Biden or Clinton they are both a fantastic choice for the Democratic party and more importantly for the United States.
Posted by Azly | 29.09.08, 05:16 GMT
If it does happen it will be just one more prime example where Obama has changed his mind again! Can't he ever make a decision and stick with it instead of changing his mind depending on what the polls say? Good Grief!!! Can't he at least stand by one decision in this race?
Posted by lolo | 29.09.08, 04:30 GMT
Not. Going. To. Happen.
Biden might be guilty of the occasional gaffe, but it's rare that his gaffes are anything more than a blush-worthy faux pas. What he brings to the table is both substantive and collaborative, and in my humble opinion, he's a great choice for the VP role. Hillary might have the substance, but she is clearly too indignant over her loss in the primaries and can't seem to let go of that sense of entitlement to the presidency. Just look at hers and Bill's reluctant support of Obama's campaing. As such, it's impossible to imagine her accepting a subordinate role, and perhaps even harder to imagine her not undermining an Obama presidency by stubbornly commanding her own power base from the VP position.
Talk all you want about Palin stepping down and Ridge, Lieberman or Pawlenty re-emerging for McCain, but seriously... This story is a COMPLETE non-starter.
Posted by Mordechai Bigfeather | 28.09.08, 05:24 GMT
Here is Barack's birth certificate Sam:
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate
Stop trying to scare people and make Barack the "other." If your ridiculous claim were true about anyone it would be about McCain born in Panama. hahaha. Oh, and talk about scam - Palin? Biden isn't going anywhere. This is an internet rumor.
Posted by Sam is crazy | 27.09.08, 23:46 GMT
This is a non-story that smells of a Republican strategist memo to confuse and distract attention from McCain's lacking performance during last night's debate.
The Belfast Telegraph would do well to focus its attention on grammatical mistakes rather than rumours produced by spin centres posing as news sites.
Can you please spot and correct the error in the story? Many thanks.
"The 61-year-old had surgery ten ago years for two brain aneurysms"
Posted by Jeeves | 27.09.08, 23:29 GMT
I would be thrilled to see Hilary Clinton on Obama's ticket. In my opinion, they would be unbeatable. I have heard many echo this opinion. Palin is all McCain has going for him, but she has been a big enough boost to him campaign to cause the Obama momentum to faulter.
Posted by Katherine | 27.09.08, 15:04 GMT
In Response to Din's comments ... There there thats enough of your wishful thinking, this isn't the playground and I'm not in the mood to hear any of your stories. As far as the matter at hand, if this were to be true or not, either way The Democratic ticket is far superior to their counterparts so I guess all we should do is wait and see.
Posted by Lotus | 27.09.08, 14:57 GMT
Joe Biden is 65 years old, not 61 as stated in this article. He'll be 66 this November 20, and he has not released his medical records. I find it amazing that anyone could be comfortable with the idea that this man, who has made a fool of himself on countless occasions for decades, would be a "heartbeat away" from the presidency if Obama/Biden are elected.
Posted by SNS | 27.09.08, 04:18 GMT
Biden's lost his marbles, as the whole world can see. So, "THE SUCKERS (Obama & Biden) ARE GOING DOWN!" Expect McCain to win by a massive landslide now. Big Mac is solid, while Obama & Biden have turned out to be puny.
Posted by Din | 26.09.08, 23:07 GMT
Bill in Alabama. I love when idiots like you make fun of Fox News.Fox news that always has a Democrat on to talk the counterpoints, even on its most conservative shows..like Hannity and COLMES (Hardcore Liberal). Fox News that often reports on McCains faults and Obama's strengths.
And yet I bet you sit back all comfy every night sipping your Kool Aide and watching MSNBC's Keith Olbermann (Too stupid to be on Network TV) who can't have Republicans on because he gets too mad and is much too stupid to debate them remember this "Lets Wrap this guy up NOW" and this during the RNC.Or you watch CNN which tingles with Obama love every night, or you watch ABC, or you watch NBC, or you read the Boston Globe, or the New York Times, or The LA Times, or every crazy Blog With all these crazy liberal media outlets I find it hard to believe that one network that actually reports both sides of the story angers you so much. Is the Kool Aide too weak and you can no longer defend your side? So Sad
Posted by Don | 26.09.08, 21:30 GMT
Either Biden or Hillary could fill the shoes of VP outstandingly. I was a Hillary supporter. I hope Biden is not ill as he too is an outstanding choice. All Democratic candidates have conducted themselves in such a respectful manner. Makes we voters proud to be both a Democrat and an American.
Posted by nelda burch | 26.09.08, 21:28 GMT
Dumb rumor.
Posted by davide | 26.09.08, 20:27 GMT
Another gaffe so bad that is defies sanity is his stump speech ridiculing the 'Bridge to Nowhere.' The Obama has a campaign add that calls the bridge issue "a prime example of Republican wasteful spending." Interesing... Joe voted for it twice, Obama (in one of his rare appearances in the Senate) also voted FOR it. McCain did not vote on the issue. And Gov. Palin? She wasn't in office yet. By the time she got there, the bridge was "killed" but the money was still there. Another measure called for the money to be diverted into a fund allocated for rebuilding a bridge damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Biden and Obama both voted against that measure, forcing Alaska to take the money. McCain voted to repair the bridge damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Palin, now in office and "stuck" with the money, spent 2 million improving the ferry system already in place (there's the "no thanks" stretch) and spent the other $3 million on infrastructure project.
Posted by S M M | 26.09.08, 20:08 GMT
Now thats an October surprise !!!!
Posted by dorie | 26.09.08, 20:03 GMT
Are you nuts over there, or do you just get your news from FOX? This is a tired old rumor, probably started by Rush Limbaugh or some other conservative gasbag!
Joe Biden has far more going for him than anything against him. I'd much rather see him on the top of the Democratic ticket!
Posted by Donna Hughes | 26.09.08, 18:17 GMT
This has to be a rumor. If Obama throws biden out and take Hillary in, the republicans would be all over this. They would argue that the only reason for the sudden change is to lure white women over to Barack Obama's side. I don't trust the source of this news.
Posted by AndreinFL | 26.09.08, 17:31 GMT
if Obama wants the white house he had better make this happen. Otherwise McCain will win.
Posted by teri | 26.09.08, 17:17 GMT
27 Comments