There are three words, former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn said, that describe Joe Biden, his former colleague and the man Barack Obama tapped as his vice presidential running mate.
Experience, integrity and sound judgment. More like four words, but you get the idea.
In a conference call with reporters today, Nunn framed the Delaware senator as a family man who rarely — if ever — spent a night in Washington, opting to take the hour-and-a-half train ride to Delaware every day to be with his wife and sons. He called Biden a leader in public safety issues – “I don’t know who’s been a better friend to policeman and firefighters than Joe,” Nunn said – as well as a champion for women’s rights, veterans, and a crusader in the fight against global warming.
“I think Sen. Obama made an excellent decision,” Nunn said. “The most important thing in selecting a vice presidential candidate is “would he make a good president of the United States?’ The answer is yes.”
When asked if he thought Biden’s reputation as a liberal statesman didn’t balance the ticket, Nunn disagreed with the notion and said that it ultimately doesn’t make any sense.
I don’t know how you make a record on liberal and conservative these days,” Nunn said. “We’ve had a conservative Republican Congress, so to speak, and a conservative president, and we’ve run up one of the most astounding deficits in the history of our nation. What does conservative mean in terms of fiscal? What does conservative mean in terms of energy? Is it conservative now to believe that the market is going to solve all the energy problems, or are we going to have government step up to the plate?”
The repeated claims that a McCain administration would be a repeat of the Bush administration is fair game, Nunn said, adding that the past decisions of Obama’s opponent give a glimpse of what could happen in the future.
“Clearly Sen. McCain has agreed with Pres. Bush on most foreign policy items, including the Iraq War,” he said. “Clearly he’s agreed with Pres. Bush on most economic matters.”
Nunn veered into an analysis of the nation’s financial woes as well, tying the costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the United State’s precarious economic state.
“Basically, we’re borrowing money from China to pay for our conflicts in the Middle East,” he said. “The Chinese investments in American dollar keeps our dollar from falling off the table. If they were to make a massive shift now in purchasing American debt, we would have a very abrupt fall of the American dollar and a very serious inflation in the county and devastation of the American financial situation. I don’t think it’s negative campaigning to [highlight those decisions]. I think that’s fair play… I consider it dealing with the facts and dealing with the future.”
Nunn says he hasn’t spoken with the Obama camp about playing a role in the potential administration. He said a return to public service would hinge on what his family wants, who his colleagues would be, and what role he would be expected to play. In the meantime, he’s busy – but he’s supportive.
“I’ve got my hands full. I’m on corporate boards, I’m basically running a foundation,” Nunn said. “The role I will play will be primarily on the sidelines… if I’m asked to give advice on security or foreign policy or other matters, I will do so. But I’m not going to be a surrogate. I’m not going to be out on the campaign trail unless Sen. Obama is in Georgia or it’s something I can do with my schedule.”
On what the Democrats have to do this fall to be competitive, Nunn said, “Young people have to be much more involved. They have to vote. A lot of times young people get registered but then forget about the fact they have to vote.”
He said that he expects young people and minorities to support Obama, but that alone will not turn the tide in Georgia.
“The young people vote and the minority vote will not carry the state,” Nunn said. He stressed that Obama will have to appeal to blue-collar workers and the middle class if he plans to win the notoriously Republican stronghold.
“Georgia’s an uphill fight,” he said. “But it’s in play.”
