I, like many other people, was under the impression that Senator Biden was already officially running for President. But apparently not. And it doesn’t look as if he will be for long.

People may recall I mocked John Kerry for having a tendency to let his mouth run away with him…and it looks as if Joe Biden may suffer from the same affliction. Earlier this week he told the New York Observer that, with Barack Obama in the race, “you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy…that’s a storybook, man.”, a comment which has caused such a storm his fledgling campaign may well be dead on arrival.

Democracy in America has helpfully pointed out that Senator Biden may have been mis-transcribed, and a comma could have made all the difference. Unfortunately, this hardly helps him now. And, as Slate’s Political Gabfest (or, as it’s appropriately titled this week – ‘Political Gaffe-fest’ – get it?) identifies, things like this make a huge difference if they confirm the image the electorate and media have of you, however inaccurate it may be. In short: this is not the first (or the second) stupid thing Joe Biden has said that makes him look like a racist idiot.

Obama is the darling of the Presidential race at the moment as well; not necessarily in poll numbers, but in media attention. With him reportedly refusing to talk to Biden, a Senator who I thought had possible potential to climb up the ladder at least part-way is probably out of the race.

Yes, I do admit, part of me feels sorry for Senator Biden. But only a tiny part. We’ve had to endure the linguistic efforts of Dubya for going on seven years now, and, while they’re admittedly amusing (and on this topic, there was a particular gem this week when the President promised to do his best to ‘elevate’ distrust in Washington), is it too much to hope for a President whose attempts at conversation aren’t a laughing stock the world over? Or maybe I’ve been watching too much West Wing (and before a fellow obsessive trumps me, yes, I know President Bartlet was admonished by his staff for saying stupid things, but I hardly think offending the Ryder Cup team is on a par with this).

Biden chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position that, even if you don’t agree with the label ‘influential’, certainly garners lots of headlines. Other candidates may talk about Iraq, but Biden has the ability to do/say something about it that will end up in the front pages of the Washington Post. And I thought this was an asset. But perhaps not. The other candidates are so well-known anything they say is likely to overshadow his statements anyway, and he has the distinct disadvantage in that he never comes across as particularly likeable. He’s too long-winded, and it’s almost as if he tries too hard.

Maybe I’m making too much out of this. After all, it was one statement at the beginning of a long campaign. However, Biden’s already going to have problems raising money, and there are so many candidates in the race anything that can be held against him, however small, is going to constantly resurface. He won’t be President. But he’s the kind of respected politician for whom a Cabinet position is a much more viable option.

Feeling disillusioned with the Presidential race already? Don’t fret – you, too, can join the hordes clamouring to be leader of the free world. All you have to do is go to u4Prez.com.

Joe Biden: Moron racist, or poorly transcribed? [Democracy in America]

Biden Unbound: Lays into Clinton, Obama, Edwards [New York Observer]

Biden Stumbles at the Starting Gate [Washington Post]

Biden’s Blunder [Political Wire]

Filed under: election2008, uspolitics on February 3rd, 2007