Delaware’s Governor Fills Biden’s Senate Seat
By Doug Mataconis | Related entries in 2010 Election, NewsDelaware’s Governor has appointed a long-time aide to Joe Biden to fill his Senate seat, but it looks like it’s just a temp job:
Ted Kaufman, a longtime aide to Joe Biden, will be appointed by Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to fill the vacancy created by the vice president-elect once he resigns from the Senate.
Kaufman is currently one of the co-chairs of Biden’s transition team and is the Delaware senator’s closest — and longest-serving — adviser. He worked with Biden in the Senate from 1973 to 1994, spending nearly two of those decades as chief of staff.
“There is no one who knows more about how the United States Senate works and no one who is more ready to do this job for Delaware than Ted Kaufman,” said Biden in a statement on the Kaufman pick. “Over the years, he has earned the respect of those who have served, like Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey and of those who are still there, like Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut. He will make a great partner with Senator Tom Carper.”
Kaufman is widely seen as a caretaker pick — almost certain to serve for two years and then make way for Biden’s son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, to be the Democratic nominee when a special election is held in 2010 for the remaining four years of Joe Biden’s term. (Beau Biden is currently on a year-long stint with the Delaware National Guard in Iraq).
Because, of course, being Joe Biden’s son is more than sufficient qualification to serve in the United States Senate.
This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 and is filed under 2010 Election, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Wow, this guy doesn’t even have as much experience as Sarah Palin. I’m really surprised someone hasn’t mentioned that. As we know, she’s the current benchmark for suitability for office.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
^ Which guy? I don’t know anything about Doug Biden, but is being Joe Biden’s son disqualify him from running for Senate? I was under the impression that anyone could run for the seat.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Chris, it’s a sarcastic joke at Doug’s expense (sorry, Doug, caught a case of snark from the Obama’s birth certificate comment thread). Beau Biden obviously did something to Doug as this is the second post on this topic. The first railed against the idea that Beau would be appointed to fill his father’s seat and opined that Beau was not even as qualified as Sarah Palin, non seq to say the least. Now that this has not happened, and someone else has been appointed, Doug is raining on the idea that Beau even be considered for the position via election. Again, not sure what Beau did to him. As for his fitness to serve, perhaps there’s some school for senators I’m not aware of? Last time I checked these men and women came from all walks of life, and Beau’s success as a businessman, willingness to serve his country in the miltary and presumed political savvy based on being the son of a senator of 36 years would indicate that he’s as reasonable a candidate as any.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
blackoutyears,
Its really quite simple.
This is the United States Senate, not the House of Lords. Promingenture was outlawed centuries ago.