LANSING – U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware), the presumptive Democratic vice-presidential nominee, is a safe, reinforcing pick that will not force the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, to change his criteria in choosing a running mate, said several political consultants contacted by Gongwer News Service.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s choice of Biden, announced Saturday, won’t change McCain’s criteria, Michigan Education Association Governmental Affairs Director Ed Sarpolus said.

“I think McCain will decide who he wants independent of Biden,” he said.

Democrats praised the choice, while Republicans said Biden actually helps them make the case for McCain.

Governor Jennifer Granholm said in a statement that Biden was a terrific choice who would help Michigan. Biden has a proven record of accomplishment in the U.S. Senate that will help Michigan overcome some of the problems of the administration of President George W. Bush, Granholm said.

Biden seemed a more likely choice about a month ago and the crisis situation in Georgia certainly helped push Biden’s name forward, Sarpolus said. He also said McCain does not have such an obvious candidate in the “tea leaves.”

Public Sector Consultants President Bill Rustem said vice presidential picks really don’t do much outside of the home state of whoever is chosen, but that Biden was a “comfortable” pick that could alleviate some concerns about Obama.

Biden’s Delaware is one of the most Democratic states in the country and likely wouldn’t have voted Republican no matter who was the number two on the ticket.

Tom Shields, president of Marketing Resource Group, said Biden was picked for two reasons: shoring up foreign policy experience on the Democratic side and as an “attack dog” to set loose on McCain.

The Biden pick means “absolutely nothing to Michigan,” he said.

Shields said Biden was a strange choice in that he didn’t bring along any states or regional voters and that the Georgian situation showed McCain in a better light, which may have played into Obama’s decision. Still, he said Biden fits neatly into the golden rule of vice presidential selection, which is to not harm the top candidate.

Michigan is one of about seven or eight states to be in play this year, Shields said and Obama’s pick can give an opening to McCain. He said jobs are still the dominant issue and picking someone from the Midwest or someone who can talk to economic Midwest issues is essential to winning the region.

McCain still needs to shore up concerns about his economic policies and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney would help on that front, all the experts spoken to for this story said.

Sarpolus said Romney started his presidential campaign in Michigan, can organize voters here and has significant connections, enough to put the state into play in November, although the former governor hasn’t lived in the state since the 1960s.

Rustem said Romney “still has some magic in the state,” pointing to Romney’s primary victory over McCain, adding that Romney would certainly help McCain’s attempts to win Michigan.

Rustem said the current seven-point difference between the candidates, at this point in time, means almost nothing compared with the next few weeks.

Bernie Porn, president of polling firm EPIC/MRA, said in addition to Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty would also be a strong vice presidential pick for McCain, since both would offer economic support, one of McCain’s weak spots.

Porn said Obama leads McCain on general economic issues almost as much as McCain leads Obama on the issue of gas prices; Obama has a 51 percent to 33 percent lead on the economy while McCain has a slightly stronger 52 percent to 30 percent lead on gas prices.

He said Obama had picked up six percentage points on the economy in the last month and lost more than that on Iraq, environment and health care to McCain.

The candidates are statistically tied, with Obama moving the needle his way, among those who view the economy as the top issue. Obama had 43 percent to McCain’s 41 percent.

Porn doesn’t give much credence to theories pushing Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) or former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge as potential running mates for McCain. “I’d be amazed if a Republican convention would seriously entertain the thought of a Joe Lieberman or a Ridge or anyone who is pro-choice on abortion or gay marriages or similar social types of issues.”

Rustem said he thinks Romney and Lieberman are very likely names for the VP nomination.

Congressional candidates Sen. Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) and Gary Peters applauded the pick of Biden while taking the opportunity to knock their congressional opponents.

“As we move one step closer to ending eight years of failed policies from (President George W) Bush and (Rep. Joe) Knollenberg, Senator Biden will be a champion for the middle class and getting our economy back on track,” Peters campaign manager Julie Petrick said.

“Barack Obama and Joe Biden represent a clean break from the failed economic policies of George Bush, John McCain and Tim Walberg. Sen. Biden has a strong track record of fighting for the domestic auto industry, and will be a powerful ally for Michigan workers as our next Vice President,” Schauer said.

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