A reminder…

I’d like to believe that any Republican official in the running to be Mitt Romney’s running mate would not lie about it… but there is precedent for this sort of thing, just four years ago.

Joe Biden to reporters, three days before he was announced as Obama’s running mate: “I’m not the guy, see ya.”

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I wrote at the time:

Unless Team Obama told him he was out, and then changed their mind, Biden began his role as Obama’s running mate by lying to the press. I realize he’s in a tough spot, probably sworn to secrecy, but most figures in his position in the past have offered evasive or coy responses– “You’ll have to wait for the text message,” “I’ve got nothing new to tell you,” or “you know, I hear Tim Kaine’s lawn is a lot nicer.” Instead, Biden said he wasn’t the choice. (He later adjusted his response to a more appropriately evasive, “I haven’t talked to anyone.”) I wonder if any other journalists feel like Biden crossed the line by giving a flat denial when he presumably knew he was still under consideration.

Four years later, we have our answer: No journalist really pays much attention to what Joe Biden says.