Obama, Biden begin Rust Belt states tour

Washington Post

PITTSBURGH — Democratic running mates Barack Obama and Joe Biden embarked on a Rust Belt bus tour Friday that aimed to capitalize on a convention that appeared to ease party tensions and ended with Obama’s historic and widely acclaimed acceptance speech before a record national audience.

But some of the Democrats’ momentum quickly disappeared Friday morning, when the campaign was caught off guard by the announcement of presumptive GOP nominee John McCain that he had selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Campaign officials searched the Internet and debriefed Alaska Democrats to learn more about their mysterious foe, while a spokesman released a harsh initial statement about Palin that Obama later backed away from.

The Obama campaign, like most political observers, had expected McCain to select a more traditional running mate, such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

“I haven’t met her before,” Obama told reporters at a biodiesel plant in Monaca, Pa. Nor had Biden, who will debate Palin in St. Louis on Oct. 8.

Later Friday afternoon, Obama spoke to Palin by telephone and wished her luck — though not too much luck — in the race.

Biden also called Palin, and the two shared tales of the lengthy and secretive processes that led to their selections, aides to Biden said.

The Democratic team will spend Labor Day weekend on a caravan through the critical swing states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, where the candidates will court working-class voters, whom Obama has struggled to attract. Biden, a native of Scranton, Pa., with a lunch-pail pedigree, is expected to bolster Obama’s credentials among this critical demographic, as well as with senior citizens.

Biden, who is more easygoing and conversational than Obama on the campaign trail, showed the levity he will bring to the ticket when the pair arrived at a Pittsburgh hotel to tape a “60 Minutes” interview Friday evening and were greeted by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. “Hey, Coach, I’m Joe Biden. I’m second-string,” the vice presidential candidate quipped.

Today, Obama and Biden will attend the funeral of Ohio’s Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who died suddenly Aug. 20. The senators will make stops in Dublin and Toledo, Ohio, and in Battle Creek, Mich.

On Labor Day, Obama will march in a Detroit parade with AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, before speaking to an audience of union organizers.