FREMONT, Calif. — In 2010, the Energy Department, according to a memo written by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asked the Solyndra solar equipment company to push back their announcement discussing layoffs until the 2010 midterm elections. The manufacturer is now being criticized in the 14-­page memo as it investigates Solyndra and its intentions. In 2009, the Department of Energy granted a $535 million loan guarantee to Solyndra, but as the company filed for bankruptcy in September 2011, it was forced to dismiss more than 1,000 of its workers.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s memo acts as a basis for questioning Steven Chu, the U.S. Energy Secretary, in his hearing tomorrow. Chu will be queried regarding his relationship with Solyndra’s federal loan guarantee as well as the risky decision to reconstruct the loan from earlier this year. According to the memo, Brian Harrison, CEO of Solyndra from July 2010 until he resigned on October 7 of this year, sent the department an email of his plans to inform employees of future layoffs. This email was forwarded to Chu’s Chief of Staff and Vice President Joe Biden’s Chief of Staff, in which they advised Solyndra to hold off on their announcement until November 3, the day after the 2010 congressional midterm elections.

The memo also includes information about the controversial decision to reform Solyndra’s loan. The memo says that Chu met with Jacob Lew, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, in the beginning of the year to discuss Solyndra’s loan program. No evidence has yet established that the loan guarantee was granted due to political favoritism. The hearing of Chu’s testimony, entitled “The Solyndra Failure: Views from DOE Secretary Chu,” is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, November 17 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

QUINCY — Siobhan Magnus, who was the sixth place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol, is a local girl from Barnstable. Today she made the trip to Quincy to join Joe Biden, John Kerry, Vicki Kennedy and other prominent Democrats in a rally for Norfolk District Attorney William Keating, who is hoping to take over the seat being vacated by Rep. William Delahunt.

She was terrible.

For those who enjoy seeing people merely because they have been television, her appearance may have been a treat. But as soon as she began her rendition of “Star Spangled Banner” it was evident that her voice — at least today — was neither powerful nor pretty. Worse, she chose an over-ambitious arrangement whose glides and turns would still have been a challenge to a singer of far greater talent.

The crowd showed appropriate appreciation for her willingness to perform and to support their favorite candidate. But even as people put their hands together for applause, many were turning to the person next to them to whisper a critical remark. She wasn’t “Rosanne bad” but it was pretty terrible for someone who is supposed to be one of the best young vocalists in the United States. Watch the video.

When she returned to the stage to sing “America the Beautiful” her rendition was simpler and less-offensive but still nothing to brag about.

Ayla Brown, daughter of Republican Senator Scott Brown, has been on American Idol as well. It might be interesting to see which of these two young local ladies — one a Democratic supporter and the other the daughter of a Republican — sounds worse without the backing of Simon Cowl’s production company. If that contest ever happens, let me know how it turns out. I’m staying out of earshot.

As far as I’m concerned, Joe Biden — or rather his extra-planetary auto-tuned counterpart — was by far the best singer to take that stage today.

Biden spoke passionately about what he feels is at stake this election (John Stephen Dwyer for Blast Magazine)

QUINCY — The race for the 10th Congressional District of Massachusetts is a close one in an election that many view as pivotal. Norfolk District Attorney William Keating is running to succeed retiring fellow Democrat Rep. William Delahunt. Hoping to tip the scales in Keating’s favor, Vice President Biden appeared today at a rally in Quincy alongside fellow prominent party members including John Kerry and Vicki Kennedy.

It was an outdoor event where the sun was shining, the stage was decorated with ornamental gourds, and autumn-colored hills in the distance looked calm under a bright blue sky. And there were occasional moments of levity, such as when the bald-headed Keating kidded Kerry that at least he didn’t have to worry about his hair flopping in the wind as the Senator’s was. But the overall tone was serious.

Thelma Goldstein, a nonagenarian resident of Falmouth, MA, is known locally as Matriarch of the Democratic Party. (John Stephen Dwyer for Blast Magazine)

Alluding to a quote from Mark Twain, the Vice-President assured the crowd of a few hundred people that “reports of the death of the Democratic party are premature…we are going to maintain the Senate, we are going to have a majority in the House, and Bill Keating’s going to be part of that majority.”

He also warned the crowd that today’s GOP “is not your father’s Republican Party” and said that its unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility and lack of concern for working people is the reason middle-class families have “watched that (American) Dream slip away.”

Among other Democrats speaking on Keating’s behalf was Delahunt, Rep. Ed Markey, State Rep. Sarah Peake, and local supporter Thelma Goldstein, a nonagenarian who voted for Franklin Delano Roosevelt and whose long-time political involvement has earned her the honorary title “Matriarch of the Democratic Party.”

Click the “YouTube” button below to see more videos from this event and other Blast stories.

Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Finnegan Biden, the mother of Vice President Joe Biden, died yesterday at the Biden family home in Wilmington.

“At 92, she was the center of our family and taught all of her children that family is to be treasured, loyalty is paramount and faith will guide you through the tough times,” Biden said in a statement. “She believed in us, and because of that, we believed in ourselves. Together with my father, her husband of 61 years who passed away in 2002, we learned the dignity of hard work and that you are defined by your sense of honor. Her strength, which was immeasurable, will live on in all of us.”

Beer has long been a part of American politics, and today is no different, from “who would you rather have a beer with”, to brewers crafting recipes named after candidates.

From the early days of George Washington’s home-brewed ales and James Madison’s attempts at creating a national brewery, patriots and early American leaders relied on beer for nutrition and inspiration.

In more recent history, Jimmy Carter’s brother, Billy, promoted his own brand of brew, Billy Beer, shortly after the Georgian peanut farmer was elected. During the last presidential election in 2004, polls found that Americans would rather have had a beer with George W. Bush than John Kerry.

Throughout the country’s existence, the humble hopped beverage has lubricated the wheels of democracy by sparking debate or resolving conflicts. And the beverage has come up in some pretty interesting ways this year on the campaign trail.

Senator John McCain faced criticism after the Associated Press highlighted the candidate’s extensive fundraising connections to Anheuser-Busch through his wife’s fortune and high-powered position in Hensley and Co., the nation’s third-largest A-B distributor. Although McCain’s financial connections to the brewing giant may be close, don’t expect the White House to replace the stemware with Pilsner glasses. McCain’s campaign manager Jill Hazelbaker told the Associated Press that he “very rarely, if ever, drinks alcohol.”

But who could forget Governor Sarah Palin’s now infamous appeals to “Joe Six-Pack”?

In August, Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s taste for beer was challenged during an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes. During a discussion of his campaign’s attempts to court blue-collar voters, Steve Kroft, the interviewer, remarked to Obama, “You tried really hard to reach these people. You went and sipped beer, which I know you don’t particularly like.” Obama promptly told the reporter that he had a beer the previous night and then said, “Where does the story come from that…I don’t like beer? …C’mon, man.”

Though politicians may use beer as an image to appeal to the common person, some breweries and drinking establishments have long abided by the folk ethos of not combining politics and alcohol, while others embrace the mix. With the heightened energy of the upcoming election, many brewers and barkeeps around the country are getting into the spirit of the election season.

“What better way is there to celebrate the diversity of ideas and thoughts that come out every four years during our election process with something that goes way back to our founding fathers, that’s beer and ale,” said Wayne Mayer, director of marketing for the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company.

The northern California based brewery’s ALECTION lets customers “vote” for a candidate by buying either the “Obama Ale,” or the “McCain 2008,” re-labeled versions of their English-style light ale. Each week the results are tallied on the brewery’s website.

While encouraging their drinkers to show their preference for the candidates, the style of the beers themselves is the same.

“We did that for political reasons so no one could say that we were trying to favor one over the other,” explained Mayer.

Currently the Democratic candidate is in the lead “by quite a bit,” according to the brewery. When Blast contacted Half Moon Bay in mid-October, Obama had 4,991 bottles over McCain’s 1,274.

“We’ve seen a huge jump in our incremental beer sales” said Meyer.

Unlike the real upcoming vote this November, Mayer jested, “This is the only election where you can vote early, often, and legally.”

Magic Hat Brewing Company, based in South Burlington, Vt., released a politically themed Participation variety 12 pack, containing a few of their normal offerings and a special pre-prohibition style “Participation Lager.”

“Beyond the political packaging and beyond the beer itself, which is also politically themed, we actually as a sales team go into our bar promotions and register voters,” said Krissy Leonard, spokeswoman for Magic Hat.

Magic Hat partnered with HeadCount, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization to register people to vote. On the night before the election, the brewery is sponsoring a concert at the Highline Ballroom in New York City to benefit HeadCount featuring Robert Randolph, Joss Stone, and other artists.

Winter variety packs are now being shipped but there should be more of the politically-themed 12-packs in stores until Election Day, Leonard said.

Below the Mason Dixon line, the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, a chain of beer bars, is conducting another presidential poll. Patrons at the bars can buy a pint glass for $5 bearing either Obama or McCain’s face drawn as a cartoon, which is counted as one vote.

With 13 locations in Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, and other traditionally red states, some might find the current standings a bit surprising. Obama’s 11,420 bottles leads McCain’s 9,220 as of Oct. 28, according to the company’s website.

Fort Worth, Texas and Cordova, Tenn. are the Flying Saucer’s only locations where McCain is holding a lead.

In New York, one of the strongest Democratic support bases, Sixpoint Craft Ales located in Brooklyn created the “Hop Obama” in honor of the democratic candidate’s grassroots campaigning style.

“We were tossing it around as far back as late September last fall,” said Jeff Gorlechen, one of founding members of Sixpoint. “Then his campaign started steam rolling. At the time it was all word of mouth, and we identified with that.”

After Obama won the first few primaries, Gorlechen and the other four workers at the brewery decided to brew the ale.

While the brewers may admire the candidate, Sixpoint stopped short of fully endorsing him, as their label points out: “Although we do not intend this beer to be a direct Sixpoint endorsement of Obama, we do believe the delicious and refreshing quality it represents reminds us of the Senator’s successful grassroots campaign.”

There are “many parallels” between the rise of craft and micro brews and Obama’s style of campaigning, he said.

“There was no marketing, no advertising dollars behind it. It’s hard not to admire him,” explained Gorlechen. “In the last five years the craft market segments exploded. It kind of caught the major breweries off guard. I think [Obama] did the same thing when he won Iowa.”

Available on draft in N.Y. and Mass., Gorlechen described the Hop Obama as a hybrid ale “sort of like a British session ale, sort of like an amber, sort of an ESB [Extra Special Bitter]” that uses Scottish, English, and German malts and three different hops from the Pacific Northwest. Also, a part of the profits go to Get Out The Vote, an organization that registers voters.

Of the seven ales produced by Sixpoint, it is currently their second best seller and the brewery sold its stock of the beer faster than any other single batch released for the first time.

Although one of Sixpoint’s best selling products, some bar managers have refused to serve their beer because it is mixing beer and politics, he said.

The “Ale to the Chief” by Colorado’s Avery Brewing Co. has hit shelves in the 32 states. “Instead of an Imperial Pale Ale we’re calling it a “ËœPresidential Pale Ale’ because it’s a democracy here, it’s not an imperialistic nation,” mused Matt Throll, beer manager for Avery.

This past spring, Adam Avery, the owner of the brewery, returned from a road trip with the idea of creating a politically themed beer.

Overall, the reaction to the “Ale to the Chief” has been positive, the Brewery said.

“We’ve only had one person call up and complain to say “Ëœleave politics out of beer,’” Throll said. “We had to tell them that beer has been a part of politics a long time, that’s just the way it is. We weren’t setting out to offend anybody, but of course that’s going to happen.”

“It was not necessarily pro any of the candidates but pro change,” said Throll

Avery’s brewmasters have another batch of “Ale to the Chief” underway for Inauguration Day.

In the Midwest, the St. Louis Brewery Inc., producer of the microbrew Schlafly, is selling posters and T-shirts with altered versions of their labels featuring the candidate’s images.

“I changed our Hefeweisen to‚  “ËœHefe-Biden,’ our Oktoberfest became “ËœBaracktoberfest,’ and our actual flagship pale ale became “ËœPalin Ale,’” explained Troika Brodsky. graphic designer for Schlafly Beer.

Two days before the Vice Presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Brodsky learned that a church group would be screening the debate at Schlafly’s downtown brewery and restaurant.‚  To celebrate the debate, Brodsky made four custom tap handles and posters featuring altered “Ëœpolitical versions’ of the brewery’s labels.

Although the other candidates’ names were easy to juxtapose with the labels, Brodsky said creating one for McCain was difficult. He settled on “ËœMcCain’s Maverick’ American Pale Ale.

“Its basically just parody,” he said. “They were a big hit, actually.”

Even though the church group holding the screening was “more conservative-leaning,” Brodsky said, “Still, the Baracktoberfest and the Hefe-Biden taps sold far more.”

Schlafly is now selling a limited number of Baracktoberfest and Palin Ale T-shirts on its website.

Beyond the tension and mudslinging of the election, it’s all in good fun, he said.

“The point of this is that everyone’s really exited about the election around here. We want to encourage that energy, encourage people to vote,” said Brodsky.

From Dow Jones

NEW YORK — Results from the Dow Jones Insight-2008 Presidential Election Media Pulse show that Sarah Palin continues to hold the lead in overall media coverage of the four nominees for president and vice president — clearly giving a boost to Republican running mate John McCain, whose recent coverage has matched or exceeded that of rival Barack Obama after trailing the Democratic candidate for most of the year.

While Palin had virtually zero coverage in the days prior to her August 29th unveiling as the Republican vice presidential nominee, in the period from August 30 through September 13 her coverage surpassed that of presidential nominee Obama, and left vice presidential rival Joe Biden far behind, according to analysis of mainstream and social media sources tracked by Dow Jones Insight.

When considering coverage of the two presidential candidates only, McCain had 179,004 total mentions in all tracked media sources during the same time period, or a 55 percent share, to Obama’s 148,000 mentions, or 45 percent share. McCain also led in terms of headline mentions in the mainstream press, with 21,995 mentions, or 54 percent, to Obama’s 18,769, or 46 percent, while in social media sources (blogs and boards) Obama had 33,120 headline mentions to McCain’s 32,900, for a 50-50 split.

Palin May Have Stolen the Show in Minnesota, but Obama Still Pulled in Higher Convention Coverage

The timing of the Palin announcement could be viewed as a clear effort to steal Obama’s thunder, but it couldn’t quite offset his coverage during the Democratic convention itself. While the spotlight has shifted toward the Republicans over the past few weeks, when comparing mainstream and social media coverage of both candidates around the time of their respective conventions, Obama still came out ahead.

Dow Jones Insight tracked coverage of the candidates on the four scheduled days of each convention, plus the preview day before and the wrap-up day afterward — or August 24-29 for the Democrats and August 31-September 5 for the Republicans — and found that the Democratic convention time period saw 91,395 total mentions of both candidates, 14% more coverage than the 80,250 total mentions in the days surrounding the Republican convention. Since the Republican convention was shortened by a day due to Hurricane Gustav, the higher overall total for the Democratic convention is understandable. However when comparing each candidate’s percentage of total mentions, Obama had a more dominant share of the conversation during his convention than McCain had during his.

• Obama had 54,624 mentions, or a 60 percent share, during the Democratic convention time period tracked, compared to McCain’s 36,771 mentions, or 40 percent, in the same timeframe.
• In the days tracked surrounding the Republican convention, McCain received 45,448 mentions, for a 57 percent share, compared to Obama’s 34,802 mentions, or 43 percent
• When combining mentions from both time periods, Obama received 52 percent of the total to McCain’s 48 percent

If Money Talks, Which Candidate Speaks Loudest?

With Barack Obama’s announcement this week that he had raised a record $66 million in August and lined up more than 500,000 first-time donors, he is by far the leader in donations from the public, and also leads the way in terms of media coverage on the topic. According to analysis of mainstream and social media sources tracked by Dow Jones Insight, there were 1,740 mentions of Obama’s name in close proximity to fundraising-related terms in the previous seven days, or 36 percent of the total 4,826 fundraising mentions of the four candidates over that period. His running mate, Joe Biden, who has not played a very public fundraising role, netted just 279 mentions, or 6 percent.

While Obama declined to take public funds to finance his campaign, McCain, who has accepted public financing and is therefore limited in how much he can raise and how he can spend it, is expected to spend far less time drumming up donations. In the previous week McCain drew 1,665 mentions in reference to fundraising, or 35 percent of all fundraising mentions of the four candidates. Meanwhile, Palin received 1,142 mentions on the issue, or 24 percent, as she took on a major fundraising role for the McCain campaign.

Higher Overall Coverage for McCain Translates to Ownership of Additional Issues

In the period August 15 – September 15, media coverage of the campaign issues being tracked by Dow Jones Insight surged again, with a trend in issues ownership toward McCain reflecting the overall increase in McCain- related coverage. McCain had the lead in 17 of the 25 issues being tracked, up from six in a previous analysis. Among the issues he led were the economy, taxes, terrorism, health care and abortion (each with a split of 54 percent for McCain to 46 percent for Obama), as well as energy (59 percent to 41 percent) and the environment (56 percent to 44 percent). Obama owned just five issues, down from seven in a previous analysis, including faith, race, Israel, gun control and NAFTA. Total issues- based coverage was up 22 percent during this period, reaching 1,137,582 mentions of all 25 issues compared with 934,408 from the previous analysis.

The Dow Jones Insight-2008 Presidential Election Media Pulse (http://dowjonesinsight.blogspot.com/) provides a high-level view of a competitive media landscape and demonstrates how candidates and issues are covered in the media and how that coverage changes over time. Dow Jones Insight combines proven research methodologies, trusted content and advanced text-mining and visualization tools to deliver strategic qualitative and quantitative media measurement metrics. Organizations use the analysis to nurture their reputation, demonstrate the effectiveness of their communications strategies and achieve business objectives. The platform processes nearly a million articles, Web pages, blogs and message board posts per day.

Live blogging Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in Denver’s Invesco Field.

10:14 PM

The crowd of 80,000+ is chanting “Yes We Can!” Barack Obama officially accepts the party’s nomination for presidency.

10:15 PM

He thanks Hillary Clinton for her work on her campaign and his. He also thanks Bill Clinton for his wonderful endorsement speech last night, and Ted Kennedy for his resilience. Also, Joe Biden for his speech, and his work. He also thanks his wife, Michelle Obama, and his daughters.

10:18 PM

He talks about the American dream. He says all that is wrong with America, in regards to the economy and other major problems are a direct result of the Bush Administration.

10:20 PM

“Enough! This moment, this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.” He references the Republican convention next week, and says we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. “Eight is enough!”

10:23 PM

“Senator McCain likes to talk about his judgment, but what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush was right 90% of the time?” He talks about what McCain has said about the economy and the American people, “a nation of whiners” when it comes to their complains about the economy’s downfall. He is getting in touch with middle-class America. He’s showing there is no disconnect, like McCain tries to make it seem, and like many are afraid of. Obama himself, rose from nothing to everything, he is the epitome of a lower-middle class man, he chose social service over a high-paying post in a law firm.

10:26 PM

He talks about the difference between each party’s view on progress. “We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president.” Many economical issues that effect middle-class families today, that didn’t effect them when the last democrat was president. Issues that effect them now under George Bush, who all democrats liken to John McCain.

10:29 PM

Reminds the public about his civil service in Chicago 20 years ago. Talks about all his grandmother has done for him, the sacrifices she made for him to have a better life. He puts down the comparison to celebrity that McCain has tried to enforce upon him, saying his life has not been that of a celebrity, but of a hard-working American.

10:31 PM

A government should do “that which we cannot do.” “Our government should help us, not hurt us, it should ensure opportunity…for every American who’s willing to work.” “We rise or fall as one nation”

10:32 PM

His Change: A tax cut for companies that create jobs in America, not ship them overseas. Eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-ups. Cut taxes for 95% of all working families. “In 10 years we will finally end our dependence on oil from the middle-east.” “We will do this.”

10:34 PM

Off-shore drilling is a short term measure not a long-term solution. “Not even close.” He says he will tap our natural gas reserves and fund clean coal companies. He wants fuel-efficient cars to be built in America. $150 billion over the next 10 years in renewable energy, creating five million new jobs that can’t be outsourced.

10:36 PM

World-class education for children, so all children have the chances he has had. Higher salaries for teachers. Affordable college educations for social servants or those in the military. Affordable, encompassing health-care for all Americans. References his sick grandmother, who had cancer, arguing with health insurance companies.

10:38 PM

Equal pay for equal work. “We cannot meet 21st century challenges with a 20th century bureaucracy.” He says he’s ready to lead, and is ready to debate McCain, who says Obama isn’t experience enough to be Commander-in-chief.

10:42 PM

References all that is wrong with McCain’s view on the war, and all that he, Obama, has stood up for. He is showing everyone that he knows a lot about foreign policy, and with Biden by his side, no one need worry. “We are the party of Roosevelt, we are the party of Kennedy, so don’t tell me this party won’t keep us safe.” “We are here to restore that legacy.”

10:45 PM

Obama says he will end the war responsibly. He, eloquently, tells everyone he will once again make America a symbol of hope and prosperity.

10:47 PM

“I’ve got news for you John McCain. We all put our country first.”

10:48 PM

Acknowledges the differences of opinions between republicans and democrats, on gun control, same-sex marriage and abortion. Highlights what everyone can agree on, keeping AK-47′s out of the hands of criminals, keeping gays and lesbians free of discrimination and reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies.

10:50 PM

“This election has never been about me, it’s about you” Acknowledges that he isn’t the typical presidential candidate, but he has a dream to help the people of this country. He’s a new player, with new ideas and a new brand of politics. He will bring change “to Washington.” Because, he says, change doesn’t come “from Washington.”

10:53 PM

Talks about where he’s seen change around the country, and how he will make life easier in America. He talks about the promise that defines America. He talks about Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech 45 years ago, a speech that started a revolution that has allowed him to be where he is now.

10:56 PM

He ends with a God Bless the United States of America.

This has been a wonderful speech. He’s saying everything that needs to be said, he is putting McCain’s accusations to rest and being as eloquent as ever. He gave every American, I think, proof that his inexperience isn’t a bad thing. He used his inexperience as a tool, saying that “change doesn’t come from Washington, it comes to Washington.” What I really liked was the organization of the speech, how he started off addressing the middle-class, the one’s the republicans have said he is disconnected from, and really hit home with them. He addressed all the issues that concern each and every one of them, and probably surprised a few viewers. Eloquence and clarity is something that you can always expect from Obama, but tonight’s speech was especially well-delivered, it had a different feel, an urgent feel, and was impeccable.

That’s it from me and the DNC.

In an email to supprters, Senator Joe Biden introduced himself and his plans as the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

The email:

I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome I’ve received as the newest member of this campaign.

What you and Barack have accomplished over the past 19 months is incredible, and it’s an honor to be part of it. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting involved.

I recorded a short video message about how I hope to help in the weeks ahead.

Please take a minute to watch the video and share it with your friends:

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be doing a lot of the things you’ve done to grow this movement — reaching out day after day in neighborhoods all across the country, connecting with people who are hungry for the change we need.

This is no ordinary time, and this is no ordinary election. I plan to do everything I can to help Barack take back the White House.

I don’t need to tell you that John McCain will just bring us another four years of the same. You can’t change America when you supported George Bush’s policies 95% of the time.

Barack has the vision and the courage to bring real change to Washington. But even he can’t do this alone.

Join me by getting involved in your community — and reach out to your friends and family to get them involved as well.

Thank you,

Joe

The AFL-CIO, in a statement Sunday, voices its approval of Senator Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic presidential running mate.

In asking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama has affirmed the judgment it takes to be President of the United States and an understanding of the team it will take to turn around America. Sen. Biden is not only one of the most experienced foreign affairs experts in our country, he’s an eloquent and unwavering defender of working families and opponent of the Bush Administration’s war on workers. He’s a man of great faith and modest means who has lived his life in direct contrast to those who support Bush and his would-be successor, John McCain. He’s honest and outspoken and he’s never forgotten his working-class roots. Joe Biden will be received and supported wholeheartedly by the working women and men of America and our unions. We are more enthusiastic than ever about electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden and getting on with the job of changing America to work for all.

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly known as the AFL-CIO, is the largest organizatio of labor unions in the U.S., with more than 10 million members. The million American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) workers comprise its largest member union.

In what are bound to be his top liberal validations, Senator Joe Biden, the Democratic vice presidential choice, received sharp criticism from a right-wing Christian group and a nodding affirmation from Senator Ten Kennedy (D-Mass.).

“Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden sends a clear message, true Christians need not apply in the Democratic Party,” said Dr. Gary Cass, Chairman and CEO of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, in a statement Saturday. “Biden is a liberal on social policy in defiance of Christian moral teaching.”

Dissatisfied with both Obama and McCain as “not true Christians,” the comission was lobbying both to pick “true Christian” running mates.

We’re not exactly sure what a “true Christian” is, but we think it has something to do with conservative evangelicals.

“Now we are watching what McCain will do. Will he pick a pro-choice Republican or perhaps a moderate Mormon or a liberal Jew? I urge McCain to pick someone that conservative evangelicals and Catholics can support,” said Cass.

On the other hand, Kennedy was all for Biden.

“Barack Obama said he wanted a strong independent leader and a strong advocate for average Americans, and he got one in Joe Biden. He has a deep devotion to his family and his country and an impressive record not only in standing up for American security interests around the world, but for middle class values and safe neighborhoods here at home. An Obama-Biden Administration will bring the real change Americans want and the country needs.”

Well, he finally did it.

“Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!” the text came at 3:26 a.m. EDT.

This email followed:

I have some important news that I want to make official.

I’ve chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.

Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois — the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.

I’m excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can’t do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.

Please let Joe know that you’re glad he’s part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we’ll make sure he gets it:

http://my.barackobama.com/welcomejoe

Thanks for your support,

Barack

P.S. — Make sure to turn on your TV at 2:00 p.m. Central Time to join us or watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.

So what do we think?

Barack Obama has confirmed, on his official website and through text message, that he has chosen Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate for the 2008 presidential election.  Senator Obama will make an appearance in Illinois later today, with Senator Biden by his side.

The choice brings a much needed degree of experience and credibility to Obama’s campaign.  Biden’s inclusion should ease the minds of fence voters who are worried about some of Obama’s foreign relations policies.

What remains to be seen however is how Clinton backers will react to the decision.  Many are still torn on Obama, something I find quite astonishing.  A true democratic supporter would get behind a candidate like Obama, an American through and through with, as he touts and I believe, only the nation’s goodwill at the forefront of his personal and political heart.

A true democratic supporter would rally behind the newly formed Obama-Biden ticket, applauding Obama on choosing a mate that will surely increase his chances of becoming America’s 44th president.

On the other side (where the grass is not greener), McCain supporters eagerly await his VP announcement. Personally I hope it’s Lieberman, only because it would give Obama a better chance.  A McCain-Lieberman ticket would be horrifying, with 138 years between them, they are, together, only a few years younger than my country of residence; Canada.

The latest CNN National Poll of Polls (a combined tally of the results of five different surveys) has Obama’s lead at just two percent over McCain.  The poll has no margin of error, and unsurprisingly, lists 14 percent of the polled as unsure.  In order for Obama to widen the gap, he needed to pick a good running mate, one that would bring in the majority of this magical and mysterious 14%.  He’s done that.

Biden will deliver his first speech as VP at the Democratic convention on August 27th.

Now we wait.

He’s done it!  After several weeks of waiting, Barack Obama has finally decided on a running mate for his 2008 presidential campaign.

But WE still don’t know who he’s chosen.  Obama’s refused to share his decision with the public.

“I won’t comment on anything else until I introduce our running mate to the world,” he said to CNN on Thursday. “That’s all you’re going to get out of me.”

He’s expected to make an appearance with his running mate on Saturday in his political home state of Illinois.

This past week heavy speculation has swirled around two main contenders, Delaware Senator Joe Biden and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh.  A third candidate, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, has also been mentioned as a prime possibility.

What Obama really needs is fence voters, southern voters and all of those Clinton supporters.  Biden would bring a lot of expertise in foreign affairs and relations, something Obama needs very much, and could help to sway some fence voters.

Bayh would help Obama nab some southern and fence voters, but many Democrats don’t like the idea of Bayh being on the ticket.  In fact, as soon as Bayh’s name was mentioned as a possibility, various online petitions were launched largely because of his centrist views and the fact that he backed the Iraq war.  Regardless, Obama seems to have a thing for him.

It has also been reported that John McCain may choose Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman as his running mate, seeing as he is one of the top contenders.  The 66 year-old Senator is slated to speak at the GOP convention, and has been campaigning with McCain quite a bit; the two, as of late, have been inseparable.

His inclusion in rumours has worried many republicans and outraged many democrats.  Republicans worry his pro-choice attitude toward abortion will defect some conservative voters, while democrats are furious that a former member is aiding a republican candidate garner independent voters.

Regardless of either candidate’s choice, the fact remains, the world will soon be a better, smarter place without President George W. Bush.  And that’s something on which everyone can agree.