A Biden-Hillary Surprise?

Politics | Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 8:05:09 am PDT

Skeptical doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction to this rumor, but Andrew Malcolm seems to think we can’t dismiss it out of hand: After Sarah Palin VP debate, Joe Biden to step aside for Hillary Clinton?

The report does seem truly far-fetched — until you start recalling Biden’s series of campaign gaffes so far, including his effusive praise of McCain and taking a position contrary to Obama’s that matches the Republican’s on at least one issue.

And then there was that recent plaintive video (see video below) showing a shirt-sleeved Biden restlessly pacing the campaign stage. He was supposed to be talking about the Obama-Biden ticket and its platform. But instead Biden went on and on about what a close friend Hillary Clinton is and how well-qualified she is.

And, in fact, Biden suggested, she might have been a better vice presidential choice than he was, an unwelcome on-camera reminder of the gender imbalance on the Democratic ticket compared to the GOP’s.

Another possible reason for this candidate swap: What if in Thursday night’s VP debate in St. Louis, Biden, an expert debater, figuratively rolls up his sleeves, takes off the gloves and simply demolishes Palin rhetorically and policy-wise. Just destroys her.

Many if not most would find that bullying, an offense that could be rectified by Biden’s departure and Obama, the would-be chief executive, stepping in to decisively make things right by naming a woman in his place. And the once-popular Palin would have been neutralized.

In any other election cycle such a scenario would be truly beyond belief. Simply couldn’t happen.