On the contrary. Try on these Biden comments for idiocy, offensiveness, and undermining one’s own running-mate:

This year, in a TV interview: “Obama is not ready to be president.”

Early 2007, announcing his presidential campaign — discussing Obama: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”

Last summer: “(In Delaware,) you cannot go into a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.”

Early in his 1988 presidential campaign, responding to a man identified only as “Frank” inquiring about discrepancies in Biden’s law-school record: “I think I have a much higher IQ than you do.”

A year ago, discussing AIDS before an African-American audience: “I spent last summer going through the black sections of my town holding rallies in parks trying to get black men to understand it’s not unmanly to wear a condom. Getting women to understand they can say no. Getting people in the position where testing matters. I got tested for AIDS. I know Barack got tested for AIDS. There’s no shame in being tested for AIDS.”

During a March 2001, hearing on John Bolton’s nomination as undersecretary of State for arms control: “My problem with you, over the years, has been you’re too competent. I mean, I would rather you be stupid and not very effective.”

Withdrawing from the nomination race early this year after garnering less than 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses — to reporters: “This is about celebrity. You’ve never given any of us a chance. You know in your heart I’m more qualified than any of these guys up top.”

Aug. 23, introducing Barack Obama: “. . . a man I’m proud to call my friend, a man who will be the next president of the United States — Barack America.”

Evidently you’re not too pleased with the Biden selection.

It’s a head-shaker. Think about it. The Obama-Biden ticket consists of Tweedledum and Tweedledee Senate liberals straining to depict John McCain as but a clone of President Bush. That only can help McCain make the (winning) case that this campaign is not principally about George Bush — whose name of course will be absent from the November ballot — but Barack Obama.