A couple of interesting nuggets from the excerpt of David Plouffe's new book appearing in the current issue of Time. First, his description of his (and David Axelrod's) meeting with Joe Biden to discuss the VP slot:

The [first] meeting started with Biden launching into a nearly 20-minute monologue that ranged from the strength of our campaign in Iowa ("I literally wouldn't have run if I knew the steamroller you guys would put together"); to his evolving views of Obama ("I wasn't sure about him in the beginning of the campaign, but I am now"); why he didn't want to be VP ("The last thing I should do is VP; after 36 years of being the top dog, it will be hard to be No. 2"); why he was a good choice ("But I would be a good soldier and could provide real value, domestically and internationally"); and everything else under the sun. Ax and I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

It confirmed what we suspected: this dog could not be taught new tricks.

Also interesting was Plouffe's description of the back and forth over their initial statement on McCain's choice of Sarah Palin. Axelrod and Plouffe came out swinging with a tough statement that surprised nearly everyone with its aggressive, negative tone. Plouffe writes that the firestorm of reaction made him think they had "misfired." Obama thought they had, and wanted to release a second statement, which Plouffe worried would make the campaign look bad. Plouffe writes:

I didn't disagree but thought backtracking would only add to the sense in the press that perhaps Palin was a brilliant game-changing pick that had scrambled the race. Even the famously disciplined Obama campaign can't get its story straight — this would be the blowback. "Look," I told him, "simply say that you're adding your own personal voice, one principal to another." He acknowledged that he understood and would watch his words. "We'll send out a personal statement from you and Biden," I said, "but it's important you not suggest we misfired on the original statement. Don't throw the campaign under the bus."

But when he took a few questions from the press later that day, he proceeded to drive the bus right over us. "I think that, you know, campaigns start getting these hair triggers, and the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments," he said.