McCain: Biden a 'wise selection' for Obama, and 'a good friend'
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/24/art.mccain.gi.jpg caption="John McCain praised Barack Obama's VP pick, saying he considers Joe Biden a 'good friend.' "]
(CNN) - John McCain’s campaign may have used Joe Biden in a negative spot just hours after Barack Obama named the Delaware senator his running mate, but the presumptive Republican nominee had nothing but good things to say in a new interview.
"I think he's a good selection," McCain told CBS’s Katie Couric. "Joe and I have been friends for many, many years, and we know each other very well, and so I think [Obama’s] made a very wise selection.
“I know that Joe will campaign well for Senator Obama, and so I think he's going to be very formidable. Obviously, Joe and I have been on different philosophical sides, but we have been - I consider him a good friend and a good man."
Biden and McCain – who have both built solid Senate reputations on foreign policy and national security issues – have long maintained a cordial relationship, even as they tussled over policy.
Back in 2005, Biden told the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart that McCain was "a personal friend, a great friend. I would be honored to run with or against John McCain because I think the country would be better off."
Biden has beenin Washington since 1972, and he still does not understand foreign policy. He voted against the first iraq War when Hussein invaded and occupied Kuwait. He voted against it for purely political reasons - he stood alone on that vote. Biden voted with McCain and for the current Iraq War. Both were sweayed by the evidence presented to COngress. Biden's only solution for Iraq was to divide it into three separate regions - had we done that Iraq would be in civil war today/ Biden was against the McCain surge – fortunately the president agreed with the surge and becasue of that, we are looking at victory in iraq for the US and for the Iraqui people -– and Bush will be removing troops from danger and out of the cities by June 2009, and totally out of the country by 2011 - all thanks to McCain's wisdom.
Biden does not represent change – he is status quo – but he had good insights on Obama who he believes is not ready to be president
Nit picky! I cannot wait for the Dems to socker punch McCain so badly, they will be crying UNCLE
Hey Sen. McCain Biden is no ones friend when it comes to himself .
So you guys relase an ad and now come say this?
Hmmm...McCain is acting wired he doesn't know if he should be nice or mean. OMFG HES TWO FACE
I doubt that Obama will feel the same way when McCain picks Romney or the inexperience Pawlenty or the traitor Lieberman as his running mate.
Yeah, McCain is saying nice things in front of the cameras to make himself look good, and then using his campaign ads to try to ruin Senator Biden's chances of getting elected as Senator Obama's vp. Now that's what I call a good friend! Someone who will stab you in the back every chance they get. Way to go, McCain, I know Joe Biden appreciates the friendship and I look forward to him returning the favor! All in the name of friendship of course
Biden was a friend to the McCain of 2000. McCain is not the same person he used to be. He is suffering from a personality disorder and most people close to him don't recognize him these days. He has evolved into a combination of George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove. While McCain used to be a maverick he is no longer. Now he is only a follower doing whatever his Bush campaign staff tell him to do.
that's just because mcain knows he can beat obama now that hillary is not his vp. Mcain will get A LOT of hillary's votes.
Typical Republican Tactic, first smere, then once the damage has been done, put on a smile and pretend you are a nice guy.
If you want actual change, its time to change, Obama '08
Ironically it was Sen. Joe Biden who asked John McCain in 2004 to leave his party and be the running mate for Sen. John Kerry.
Sure. Mccain must be celebrating privately to see Hillary not in the ticket.
He can now mobilize the Hill supporter and use all the bad things Biden said about Obama not being suitable to be President.
A win-win situation all the way to the White house.
McCain is only trying to soften his attacks thats coming. He is not that forgiving when he is crossed.
So McCain calls Biden a "good friend" while still running campaign ads that use Biden as an attack tool against the man that Biden is now working for and owes a debt of gratitude for his Vice-Presidental nomination?
I just love the honesty and integrity in today's politics.
If they could run together or against each other what does this mean? We now have no political party but yet Obama is liberal. Are we now saying Biden would have ran as the VP on the opposite side? This is so messed up. Biden was not the right choice and the door is open for McCain now.
There is no one on the the McCain side that will be able to go toe-to-toe with Joe. I cant wait for the V.P. debates they willbe as exacting as the presidential debates. Those who don't know Biden. If you are a Hillary supporter you should love Biden. he is a fighter just like she is. He has an even more compelling story than John mcCain. i was sure about him, but once I heard his biography , I was sold!
Mcsame admitting indirectly that Obama has better judgement
McCain probably hasn't gotten his new talking points from his
Puppet-Master ROVE!
Kick the Monarchy out of our WhiteHouse, reinstate the constitution,
and stop the destruction of our country by the GOP!!!
End the Evil Empire, Vote OBAMA!
HYPOCRITE
Funny right there.
Christie I completly disagree with your comment. McCain and Biden have known eachother for a long time. McCain is still going to point out Biden's weakness and his comments about Obama because this is a campaign. This is not back stabbing, stop attacking McCain on such a pointless issue.
yooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!! .mccain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. joe biden is coming for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Well, there is the Keating Five Senator Biden knows everything about. McCain certainly does not want that come out.
This a great ticket. I believe that Joe Biden and his entire family will work and support Barack Obama.
I am a lifelong republican mom of 3 who is fired up and ready to go for Barack. I donate, support in every way that I can. We cannot afford 4 more years of this, seeing our hard earned equity dry up, the terrible economic mess and image problem we have, I encourage every-one to work as hard as they can. YES WE CAN and please remember what's at stake. You guys are all great.
Give it arrest all you Obama-ites. McCain is a good man, and even when he tries to say something nice about an opponent you all sound the attack. This is exactly why America will fail with a President Obama. When his supporters refuse to see the good in others there is a major problem. Biden is a solid selection. He is a fighter, and very knowledgeable on foreign affairs. Unfortunately, he'd probably be better off at the top of the ticket, or as the VP nominee of a certain Democratic female who seems to have been completely snuffed by the Obama campaign.
Is Obama eligible to run for president based on citizenship laws?