It’s Biden

Move over, Hinderaker. There’s a new winner for the Spin Award of the Day (linked via Memeorandum). Ron Fournier says, in an AP “analysis,” that Barack Obama’s pick of Joe Biden for his vice-president “lacks confidence.”

Steve Benen, blogging at his new place, has the best response I’ve seen so far:

By choosing Biden, Fournier argues, Barack Obama is showing a “lack of confidence,” and is siding with “the status quo.”

There are two ways to consider Fournier’s piece: substantively and in the broader context.

First, on the substance, Fournier’s analysis seems a little lazy. By his logic, any potential running mate shows a “lack of confidence” — picking Hillary would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over women voters; picking Bayh would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over independents and conservative Dems; picking Webb would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over voters concerned about national security; picking Kaine would mean Obama lacked confidence in his ability to win over voters in the South; etc. …

Second, in context, Fournier’s objectivity covering the presidential race continues to look shaky. We are, after all, talking about a journalist who, as recently as last year, considered working for the McCain campaign.

The Moderate Voice has a ton of Biden coverage, including this one by Shaun Mullen, who has known Biden since they were both teenagers.