Obama-Biden Ticket Bodes Well for Asian Subcontinent: The Times of India

The global reaction to Obama’s choice of Joe Biden has just begun to emerge. Generally in the hours after a story like this breaks, newspapers around the world publish wire copy and only then, do they begin to opine for themselves.

First out of the gate have been the Indians and, as is commonly the case, the British.

Chidanand Rajghatta of The Times of India writes that the choice of Biden indicates where a new Democratic Administration’s focus of attention is likely to be – the Indian Subcontinent.

Rajghatta writes in part:

“Biden is especially intimate with the Indian sub-continent. With Biden, the region, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, will get greater attention, with better clarity, than at any time in the past…. India won’t be neglected either, given Biden’s leading role in pushing through the nuclear deal.”

After describing how former Senator Allen’s “Macaca” moment, Rajghatta writes of Biden:

“In fact, such is Biden’s familiarity with the Indian community that he once made a faux pas of Macaca-like proportions, but with a happier ending. During a 2006 campaign appearance while still in contention for the presidential ticket, Biden, boasting about his strong relationship with Indian-Americans in his state, said ”You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. … Most Indian-Americans in Delaware didn’t take offense to Biden’s remark.”

Then according to a leading article from The Times of London, with the ‘Untested Obama’ putting Biden on the ticket, “The American presidential battle looks like a thriller.”

By Chidanand Rajghatta

August 23, 2008

India – The Times of India – Original Article (English)

WASHINGTON: A Democratic White House could have a slight Indian accent after Presidential candidate Barack Obama on Saturday chose experienced Delaware Senator and foreign policy maven Joseph Biden as his vice-presidential running mate.

Biden, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, helped pilot the U.S.-India nuclear deal through Congress and initiated the recent eclipse of military rule in Pakistan. He is generally intimate with Indians and the Indian sub-continent – an association even Obama claims.

The Obama campaign broke the week-long suspense over the vice-presidential nominee with a 3am text message to supporters that said, ”Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee.”

”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,” Obama said in an e-mail sent a little later. ”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.”

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated and English-language coverage of the Biden pick, the conventions and the U.S. presidential race.