When Obama picked Biden, I heard this statement, "Biden didn't help Obama, and Biden didn't hurt Obama. And that's all Obama needed in 2008, a sort of break-even VP selection"
Biden absolutely helped Obama. He was picked entirely because he fit the stereotype/image of a moderate Democrat who would appeal to blue collar whites (and because of his 30 year Senate career). Basically the message of the pick was "The Black guy may be scary, but if he's running with old Scranton Joe, the ticket can't be
too extreme or
too inexperienced."
