When Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the Presidency in February of last year on the steps of the Old Illinois State Capitol, I was the last person who thought he would be back today as the presumptive nominee and Delaware Senator Joe Biden at his side as a Vice-Presidential pick.

I figured the Hillary Clinton juggernaut would have claimed victory or Democrats would have give John Edwards a shot.  I mean let’s face it, Barack’s a nice guy, but President?  Whatever. But somehow that guy who is my older sister’s neighbor in Hyde Park got the nod. I will give him credit for doing it the old fashioned way, being more organized than his opponents.

Now with Biden at his side, the presumptive nominee moves into new territory as well as new challenges. Although Biden helps with foreign policy and experience credentials, Barack is really going to need him to drive home a message that can connect with working class white voters.

Expect the two to tie John McCain to George W. Bush at every opportune moment while driving a message that the guy with a funny sounding name and conspiracy theories about his place of birth is really one of us.

They had more than 15,000 (predominately white) people show up today.  Not bad, but they’ll get bigger props if they can do it in other places.

During his afternoon speech Biden repeatedly hit on themes that his working class story while different from Barack’s shared a common theme; rising up from small roots, facing challenges and achieving the American dream.

Can Biden do it?  We’ll see.  The two are on their way to Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Montana and Colorado.