The Senate Shuffle
Okay, here’s what happens when Obama and Biden clean house in November:
Delaware’s Democratic governor, Ruth Ann Miner, appoints a Dem to fill out the remaining time until a special election is called to replace him. Delaware hasn’t elected a Republican senator or governor (the two statewide-elected positions) since 1994 (the last Republican governor was elected in 1988).
On the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which Biden chairs, Chris Dodd slides easily into the chairman’s chair. Biden also sits on the Judiciary Committee, where he’ll be missed, but I assume easily replaced.
So there’s not a lot of harm, or foul, in taking Biden out of his seat. Perhaps that played a part in Obama’s decision, perhaps not.
