McCain’s VP Pick Could De-Fang Biden

John McCain’s game-changing selection of a first-term female governor from Alaska as his running mate poses a challenge for Barack Obama’s own selection for vice president. The presence of Gov. Sarah Palin, 44, on the campaign trail could serve to de-fang Joe Biden — the longtime Delaware senator who over the past week swiftly assumed the Democratic ticket’s role of attack-dog-in-chief. “The Obama campaign is going to have to really sort of police Joe Biden’s speech in order to prevent him from saying something that could be read as being insensitive or even sexist,” said Marc Lamont Hill, a Temple University professor of American studies and urban education. Biden, the most logical pick to spar with Palin on the campaign trail, is known for sometimes stepping over the line with off-color remarks on race and gender. And with Palin, who on Friday became the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket, Biden could find himself tongue-tied in efforts ... (link)