Obama Clarifies Biden’s ‘Rhetorical Flourishes’

Jonathan Weisman reports from Richmond, Va., on the presidential race. Chalking it up to his running mate’s propensity to talk too much, Barack Obama today sought to clarify Joe Biden ’s comments that an Obama presidency would quickly face an international crisis, saying the Democratic vice presidential candidate meant that the coming presidential transition was fraught with dangers. “Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes,” Obama said, after meeting here with more than 15 Democratic foreign policy and military experts. “His core point was that the next administration is going to be tested, regardless of who it is.” Republicans seized on Biden’s comments, suggesting the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee believed adversaries would take advantage of an untested president if Obama prevails Nov. 4. “Mark my words: It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy ,” Biden said Sunday. “The world is looking. We’re about to ... (link)