Now that Barack Obama has stepped down from the Senate, what about Joe Biden?
Biden is not in a hurry to step down, but increasing pressure may force him to do so.
The word is that Biden wants to hold on to his seat so that incoming Governor Jack Markell will make the appointment instead of outgoing Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Both are Democrats, but it looks like Biden has a closer relationship with Markell than Minner.
It is no secret in Delaware that Biden has been grooming his son, Beau, to take his Senate Seat. Beau, the state’s Attorney General, left in September for a one-year deployment in Iraq.
It is hard enough for Beau to be an absentee Attorney General, although not many are going to criticize him since he is serving the country. He probably could have received a reassignment if he really pushed for it. That would not look good politically, however. Nevertheless, to appoint him a U.S. Senator while on deployment would not sit well.
The Bidens would like a placeholder Senator to take the seat until the next election in 2010. That runs the risk that the placeholder might like the job and seek an extension.
It should be interesting how this one works out.
I don’t see why we shouldn’t have a US Senator serving in Iraq. I think it’s a brilliant idea, in fact.
He can’t really perform the duties of a US Senator while on active duty overseas. Although it’s not like presidential candidates actually perform senatorial duties for the 2 years up to the election…