politics

While Democrats in Minnesota generally praised the selection of Sen. Joseph Biden as a vice presidential running mate Saturday, the impact on the presidential race in the state and on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's own vice presidential chances was less clear.

Barack Obama's choice of Biden, the longtime U.S. senator from Delaware, was seen by Democrats and even some Republicans as a reasoned choice intended to offset the presumed Democratic nominee's scant résumé on foreign affairs.

But others said Biden would do little to mend the political chasm that still existed in the party -- including in Minnesota -- between Obama and supporters of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I am very pleasantly surprised," said David Durenberger, the former Republican U.S. senator from Minnesota. Durenberger, who served in the Senate with both Biden and John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, said he admired both colleagues but added that "I think Joe's got an edge on John" on judgment issues.

Durenberger said Biden would be a formidable match for Pawlenty should McCain make the Minnesota governor his running mate. "I admire Tim Pawlenty, but he's not Joe Biden," Durenberger said.

Minnesota Democrats ranging from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar to Christine Almeida, an Obama delegate from Minneapolis, were effusive in praising Biden's selection. Klobuchar said Minnesotans "are going to love him," and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum said she was so excited by rumors late Friday that Biden was the choice that she got up in the middle of the night to follow news reports. Biden "has a sense of the common man," said Almeida.

Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a former Clinton supporter, said Biden would help rally Clinton backers. DFL Senate candidate Al Franken, campaigning at the Minnesota State Fair, said he was "thrilled," and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz said he was impressed with Biden's work on behalf of the middle class.

"Obama is a dynamic figure, and Biden is 'steady as she goes,'" said U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. "It makes a great team. McCain can't shake his finger at Biden and say, 'Young man, you just don't get it.'"

Republicans in Minnesota were less kind. Biden is "not really a game changer" for Obama's ability to win the state, said House Minority Leader Marty Seifert. "They simply picked a guy who's been in the Senate since the year I was born, 1972," he said.

"It's just a confirmation that Sen. Obama does not have the track record that Minnesotans and Americans are looking for," said Tom Steward, McCain's campaign spokesman in Minnesota.

Biden's ability to unite DFLers in Minnesota, who are still split between Obama and Clinton, remained uncertain. Rick Stafford, a Democratic delegate from Minnesota who supported Clinton, said her supporters were feeling "remorse, disappointment" that Clinton had not been selected by Obama. "There certainly is a grieving process and a lot of 'what ifs,'" he said.

Darrell Downs, chairman of the political science department at Winona State University, said Biden's selection might in fact boost Pawlenty's chances. If Obama felt Biden helps him with a perceived weakness in foreign policy, McCain might choose Pawlenty because he needs help on domestic issues. "If I were John McCain," Downs said, however, "I'd be a little bit concerned about Pawlenty's performance [versus Biden] in a national vice presidential debate."

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