The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Opinions

LUCAS PUENTE

Over the weekend, we all learned Sen. Barack Obama chose fellow Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, albeit in a less dramatic manner than anticipated, thanks to CNN.

Although this announcement did not absolve the perceived weaknesses of the Obama campaign totally, it did bring many elements to the ticket that promise to provide an even more dynamic White House.

First and foremost, the selection of Biden addresses any concerns about an Obama Administration's lack of national security and foreign policy credentials. Biden is an expert on these issues and has the résumé to back it up. He has represented his home state of Delaware for six terms in the Senate, and, over the years, has risen through the ranks to become the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

This experience was on display during the recent Georgia-Russia crisis: Biden was invited personally by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to engage in peace talks with Russia, an opportunity to quell the violence and usher in more international peace dialogue.

Moreover, Biden has worked diligently to earmark up to $1 billion of emergency humanitarian aid in order to ensure a full recovery for the war-torn country - a clear example of his commitment to the promotion of democracy and his diplomatic skill.

He also has respect from both political parties. In his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has received wide praise from many of his Republican colleagues for putting the well-being of our great nation before his own agenda or that of the Democratic Party.

To cement this idea, take the words of Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the committee: "Sen. Biden has a very strong commitment to bipartisan foreign policy. He has a very broad, comprehensive view of the world."

Additionally, Biden's selection promises to help Obama in two unexpected areas: women voters and Pennsylvanians.

One of Biden's greatest accomplishments in his career in the Senate was writing and winning the passage of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act.

As previously mentioned, Biden grew up in Pennsylvania and maintains ties to the state and his hometown of Scranton.

In fact, many in Pennsylvania refer to him as the state's "third senator."

As Pennsylvania is a swing state and women are crucial to the ticket's success, I have no doubt these qualities will prove useful in Obama's campaign to be the next U.S. president.

I believe Obama's selection of Biden for his running mate was a terrific decision.

Biden certainly brings a lot to the table, but, most importantly, he is, as Obama introduced him, "ready to step in and be president."

- Lucas Puente is a junior from Wilmington, N.C., majoring in international affairs and finance.

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