That Barack Obama is one smart cookie. He's not old enough or white enough, some conservatives say. He comes off as your everyday man - no one acknowledges he could buy and sell UB a few times over.
Enter Joe Biden. He's old. He's white. He's rich. He's perfect.
Obama won the primary vote by catering to the most liberal. Conversely, McCain won the party ticket by being the most moderate. But now, both candidates run the triathlon to the middle ground while attempting to convince the public that they haven't changed position.
The debate over who brought age, race or wealth into the equation is futile, as both candidates point the finger towards the other man. Fitting the two candidates into the molds of yesterelection will continue well into November.
But Obama was smart. He brought in Biden, the great equalizer, as his vice president. Where Obama is day, Biden is night. Obama didn't want to pick another black man or a woman to stand by his side.
And now, McCain is faced with the same decision. His potentials have included more of the same with Mitt Romney and company on the short order of potential vice presidents.
Should McCain take the same route as Obama by doing the opposite? Absolutely. Bring on a woman or a black man. When Obama goes right, McCain should go left. Think of it as a boxing match - steer clear of predictability's gloves, or get knocked out.
Therein lies the hypocrisy though. Obama isn't the champion of the poor, of minorities, or of change. And McCain isn't the voice of conservative consistency. They're both politicians who will do what it takes to win the vote. The race card blame game is proof that the two are typical politicians, willing to say whatever it takes.
McCain might be sorry he didn't bob and weave before engaging in the great race debate. Throw in a black man, or even better, a woman, to the catalog of potential vice presidents. It'd make people think he's not that white, not that old and not another President Bush. But today, when he picks a Huckabee or a Romney, he'll be back in the good graces of his primary constituency.
Unfortunately, the McCain camp is still thinking in the mindset of 'white people vote'.
But Obama has something great going on, and he didn't even mean for it to happen. He's gotten more minorities to register to vote. He's got more women ready to come out. And he has the most young people since the hippie generation ready to make their voice heard (if not more).
McCain has underestimated what the vote of minorities, women and the younger generation might mean. And as such, it's status quo, same old same old at GOP Headquarters.
The times, they are a-changin' and the McCain stone ain't rollin'.
Perhaps John McCain and company didn't think anyone besides a white No. 2 would suffice, or maybe the thought just never occurred to him. Maybe the plan was to consider someone other than your carbon copy Republican, but the thought came too late in the game.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
