ABINGTON, PA - “How about that debate last night?” Obama asked a crowd of about 6,000 at his rally in suburban Philadelphia. The Illinois senator flew into southeastern Pennsylvania from Michigan, where he took in last night’s first and only vice presidential debate from his hotel.

“A Scranton boy - done good. I was so proud of Joe,” Obama gushed of his running mate’s performance. “America I think saw clearly why I felt he would be such a great vice president - especially during these difficult challenging times, so we are very, very proud of Joe.”

“There were a lot of noteworthy moments in that debate last night, but there’s one that sticks out this morning,” Obama continued. “It’s when Senator Palin said to Joe Biden - Governor Palin said to Joe Biden that our plan to get our economy out of the ditch was somehow a job killing plan. That’s what she said. I wonder if she turned on the news this morning,” he said.

Citing today’s jobs report that show the country has experienced its ninth straight month of job loss, Obama noted the Bush policies that got us here are ones a McCain/Palin ticket would continue to support. “So when Senator McCain and his running mate talk about job killing, that’s something they know a thing or two about. Because the policies that they have supported and are supporting are killing jobs in America every single day,” he said.

Obama will fly home to Chicago to celebrate his 16th wedding anniversary with a “romantic dinner” with Michelle, before he heads to Asheville, North Carolina, to prepare for his own debate against John McCain on Tuesday.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA - It was Barack Obama versus Mother Nature at a rally on the campus of the University of Mary Washington in Virginia this evening.

Obama, along with his running mate, Joe Biden, ran about 45 minutes late to the outdoor rally. Looking out at the “damp” crowd that had been waiting for hours, he joked, “I’d like to cover everybody’s dry cleaning bill here tonight, but I can’t because I got to use it on the campaign, so consider it one more modest contribution to our efforts to change the country.”

Minutes later, a steady drizzle tried its best to dampen high Democratic spirits. While Biden donned a baseball cap, Obama took off his suit jacket and eyed his running mate, sitting on a stool near the edge of the stage. “I’m gonna ask Joe to move that stool up because I don’t want to have to choose another vice-president. I don’t want him slipping over, toppling over there,” Obama said. Biden obliged.

Not to let the rain dampen his event, a very wet Obama took ownership of it. “Sometimes the skies look cloudy and it’s dark, and you think the rains will never pass. But here’s what I understand as long as all of us are together, as long as we are all committed, then there’s nothing we can’t do,” he said. “The young people understand that the clouds – these too will pass, that a brighter day will come.”

The soggy crowd roared.

WILMINGTON, DE — When agreeing to take the number two job under Barack Obama, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden had to reconcile himself to the new order of things. Any policy differences went by the wayside. Accusations of inexperience were a thing of the past.

But there was one problematic area of his life that was out of Biden’s immediate control: his son Hunter’s lobbying career — which flies in the face of Obama’s practice of shunning federally registered lobbyists from influencing or donating to the campaign.

But Hunter has apparently taken care of that. In a letter released today — and penned on August 25th, just days after his father was announced as the VP nominee — the younger Biden informed the Clerk of the House of Representatives that “I no longer expect to act as a federal lobbyist.” In doing so, he gives up his stable of Catholic university clients — as well as a new job lobbying the House on behalf of an internet gambling concern.

The senior Biden has said Hunter’s career was not a problem, claiming that his son never lobbied him, and that he doesn’t meet with lobbyists anyway — leaving that to his staff. Still, it’s one less inconsistency between Obama and Biden for the campaign’s GOP rivals to use against them.

Battle Creek, Michigan, home to Kellogg’s cereal brand, hosted candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden at a rally this evening, where Democratic candidate for congress, Mark Schauer showed off this special edition Frosted Flakes box to the 17,000+ crowd.

Don’t look for it at your local supermarket, however. Kellogg’s only printed two.

At a rally in Dublin, Ohio, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown took the microphone prior to Senators Obama and Biden. During his brief introductory remarks, Ohio’s junior senator mentioned new-to-the-national-scene GOP candidate, Sarah Palin.

The crowd predictably booed. “Think about this,” Brown said. “Barack Obama, John McCain have each had one major task of their judgment. John McCain chose someone who was a mayor of a town of 7,000 people, then was elected governor, has been governor of a state for 18 months — governor of a state that’s half the population of Franklin County,” he said incredulously. “And yet she’s gonna be a heartbeat away from the president?”

Someone on the crowd of 18,000 yelled out, “No way!” Brown replied, “No way is right! Now on the other hand, in his first exercise of good judgment, Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.” **

Meanwhile, Obama has not mentioned Palin by name - or referenced McCain’s veep pick at all - at any campaign event, only answering questions about Palin from reporters. Today he alluded to the GOPer for the first time at the Dublin rally.  “After 19 months of traversing this country, traveling to every state except Alaska, which now that I think about it…” Obama began his stump speech. As the crowd laughed, he added, “I’m gonna have to go up there now.”

Obama later told reporters that Palin “seems to have a wonderful engaging personality” and that her election to the governorship “shows she’s got real political skills.” That said, Obama accused her of subscribing to the same policies as John McCain. “I don’t get a sense that the addition of this vice presidential choice is gonna change the fact that he wants to take the country in the wrong direction,” he said, treading the fine line between complimenting and attacking the GOP’s history-making candidate.

While Republicans counter Palin has more executive experience than either Obama or Biden, the Democratic nominee encouraged reporters to compare Biden’s experience with Palin’s. “I feel confident about my choice,” he said.

The debate, no doubt, will continue.

**In case you were curious, according to the 2006 census, 670,053 people live in Alaska, while 853,476 reside in Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware.

Before the Obama campaign sent out a statement on behalf of the Democratic ticket congratulating McCain’s new running mate — before they described the Alaska governor as “admirable” — and before they called the announcement “yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics,” the Obama campaign struck the first blow on the new Republican candidate.

More than an hour prior to laudatory statements, Obama spokesman Bill Burton implied the little known 44-year-old governor with less than two years in office was not qualified to be president and tied her to the Bush/McCain brand of politics. “Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same,” Burton said in the statement.

Later at a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Obama was asked about the dual sentiments. “I think that campaigns start getting these hair triggers, and the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments,” he explained.

The candidate proceeded to call her a “compelling person” and complimented her for hitting up against “that glass ceiling” - the same one Hillary Clinton attempted to shatter - but said, “I’m sure that  she will help make the case for the Republicans.  Unfortunately, the case is more of the same. And so ultimately John McCain is at top of ticket…I think that he wants to take the country in the wrong direction. I’m assuming Gov. Palin agrees with him in in his policies.”

Biden, who had been standing beside Obama, piped up, “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

Barack Obama walked up to a gaggle of reporters waiting to tape him boarding his campaign plane today in Eau Claire, Wisconsin - a move that surprised reporters and staff alike. Here’s what he had to say this Sunday afternoon about his new running mate and the upcoming Democratic convention. The soon to be official Democratic nominee did not take questions.

“Listen, nothing wrong. I just wanted to say I am thrilled with Joe Biden as my vice president. The conversations we’ve been having over the last couple of days make me absolutely convinced he is the right man for the job. He’s got the passion to lift up middle-class Americans. He hasn’t forgotten his working-class roots. He’s got the expertise that will make him a great counselor on international crisis that may come up. More importantly, I think he can help shape a long-term strategy to keep America more secure and move us out of the disasterous economic and foreign policies that have characterized the last eight years. I am very excited about the convention. I can’t wait to hear Michelle’s speech tomorrow. I will tell you that I did get a little preview of the video they did of her, and she was extraordinary and I think you guys will enjoy it very much. And I am still tooling around with my speech a little bit. It may not be as good as the other headliners the other three nights, but hopefully it will make clear the choice the American people are going to face in November. All right? Let’s get back up.”

With that, Obama boarded his 757 plane bound for Chicago.

Barack Obama told voters gathered on the same site where he first announced his candidacy in Springfield, IL, he’s been searching for a running mate for months.

“I searched for a leader who understands the rising costs confronting working people, and who will always put their dreams first. A leader who sees clearly the challenges facing America in a changing world, with our security and standing set back by eight years of a failed foreign policy. A leader who shares my vision of an open government that calls all citizens – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – to a common purpose. Above all, I searched for a leader who is ready to step in and be President,” he said. “Today, I have come back to Springfield to tell you that I’ve found that leader – a man with a distinguished record and a fundamental decency – Joe Biden.”

Before the big reveal - announced by text message in the wee hours of the morning - Obama accidentally introduced his newly named running mate as “the next President…Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden!”

Oops!

The Republicans immediately referred to it as a “Freudian slip.” I’d give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to the oppressive heat and blinding sun beating down on the stage.

Biden energetically jogged out to meet Obama as Bruce Sprinsteen’s “The Rising” blared - a song John Kerry often played at rallies in 2004. The two embraced as some 35,000 onlookers waved “Obama-Biden” signs and snapped photos. Mrs. Biden and Mrs. Obama sat near the stage next to each other, smiling and clapping.

“Well it’s great to be here on the steps of the old state house in the Land of Lincoln. President Lincoln once instructed us to be sure to put your feet in the right place. Then stand firm.” were Biden’s first words to the public as Obama’s running mate. “Today Springfield,” he continued, “I know my feet are in the right place.”

During his 20-minute speech, Biden praised Obama as one with “steel in his spine.” Obama, he said, has the vision and courage that will lead to change. “I’m told I talk too colloquially, but there’s something about this guy. There’s something about this guy. There’s something about Barack Obama that allows him to bring people together like no one I have worked with and seen. There’s something about Barack Obama that makes people understand if they make compromises, they can make things better.”

The compliments to his running mate were balanced by attacks on his friend of 35 years, John McCain. “I’ve been disappointed in my friend, John McCain, who gave in to the right wing of his party and yielded to the very swiftboat politics that he so once so deplored, of giving in to the right wing of his Party,” he said, ending speculation that he might not be able to play the “attack dog” role given his friendship with the Republican.

Biden said although McCain wants to do “right by America,” “the harsh truth is, ladies and gentlemen, you can’t change America when you boast - and these are John’s words - ‘The most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.’ … You can’t change America when you know your first four years as president will look exactly like the last eight years of George Bush’s presidency.”

Biden also took aim at McCain’s recent admission that he doesn’t know how many houses he owns in what was perhaps the best line of the day. “Your kitchen table is like mine. You sit there at night before you put the kids — after you put the kids to bed and you talk, you talk about what you need. You talk about how much you are worried about being able to pay the bills. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that’s not a worry John McCain has to worry about. It’s a pretty hard experience. He’ll have to figure out which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at,” he joked, perhaps unaware that as recently as yesterday, the Obama campaign has been saying McCain has 12 homes, and presumably 12 kitchen tables.

The event - save for Obama’s blunder and a moment when Biden momentarily forgot his running mate’s last name (calling him “Barack Ameri -” not quite finishing the word that was shaping up to be “America.”) - was uneventful. But it was also not a rock concert-type event…probably a good thing for a campaign whose candidate has been called a “celebrity.”

The duo won’t appear on the campaign trail together again until after next week’s convention

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Joe Biden Takes the Stage

The Democratic Ticket

First and Second Lady Hopefuls

Read Joe Biden’s speech below the jump.

(more…)

First seen in Springfield, IL.

Chuck Hagel’s kind words weren’t the only GOP reaction to the new Democratic ticket. Dick Lugar, the Republican senator from Indiana whom Barack Obama often cites on the campaign trail, also issued a statement today, congratulating Dems for the pick. “I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy,” the senator said in a statement.

Lugar expressed that he was disappointed that fellow Hoosier Evan Bayh was not selected, but added, “I believe he will continue to have widespread support for higher office during many years ahead.”

Of course not all Republicans share the same Obama-Biden love.

“Americans looking for a pair of candidates who are ready to fix a broken Washington aren’t going to find them on the Obama/Biden ticket,” House Republican Leader John Boehner said in a statement. “In Joe Biden, Barack Obama has not only found a running mate who doesn’t believe he’s ready to be president, he’s proven his opposition to an ‘All of the Above’ energy reform strategy to lower fuel costs for families and small businesses,” he continued.