For a US presidential candidate, the choice of running mate is often nakedly political. Who will clinch a swing state or put an unpromising one into contention? Who will please a wing of the party that remains cool on the main name? For Joe Biden, the test was more substantive. At 77, he needed someone who could share the burdens of office and, in extremis, replace him.
對(duì)于美國(guó)總統(tǒng)候選人而言,競(jìng)選搭檔的選擇通常是赤裸裸的政治選擇。誰(shuí)可以牢牢抓住一個(gè)搖擺州,或讓一個(gè)原本沒有希望的州變成很可能獲勝的州?誰(shuí)可以取悅一個(gè)原本對(duì)本黨總統(tǒng)候選人反應(yīng)冷淡的黨內(nèi)派系?對(duì)于喬?拜登(Joe Biden)而言,這是場(chǎng)更重大的考驗(yàn)。他已經(jīng)77歲,需要一個(gè)人與他共同承擔(dān)職責(zé)重?fù)?dān),在極端情況下,還可能要取代他。