A considerable number of Turkish daily newspapers covered the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barak Obama’s selection of Senator Joe Biden as a running mate, with headlines expressing displeasure at Obama’s choice. The Associated Press (AP) commented that Obama’s selection of Biden was designed to blunt criticism from Republican John McCain, who was drawing virtually even in the polls by attacking the Illinois senator as an inexperienced elitist not ready for the White House.

“Biden, who is 65, was clearly chosen over lesser-known Democrats to plug holes in Obama’s relatively thin resume on the national political scene and to blunt McCain’s relentless attacks on his lack of experience at a time when the United States is fighting two wars. While polls show that voters are most concerned about the country’s wobbly economy, McCain’s appeal appears to be growing out of the lingering shock to Americans’ sense of security from the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. McCain called Biden a ‘wise selection.’ But McCain indicated that he believed there was still plenty to criticize,” AP reported.

In Turkey, the Sunday editions of newspapers covering Obama’s selection focused on Biden’s policies related to Turkey and a considerable part of which of which are not in line with those of Ankara. “[Obama] made ‘inconsiderate’ Biden his right-hand man,” Hurriyet said on it’s front page, reminding readers that of a 1999 conversation between Biden, who is close to both Greek and Armenian lobbies, and late Bulent Ecevit, then prime minister of Turkey.

“If you do not solve the Cyprus problem, then I will not approve the financial aid package of $5 billion which you expect from us, from the Congress,” Biden was then reported to have told Ecevit in a bid to put pressure on the Turkish government. Ecevit, in response, was reported to have emphasized the Turkish Cypriots’ concerns and rights, while pointing out that they had reached an agreement with then-president Bill Clinton that “there will be no going back to the period before 1974 as far as safety and security are concerned.”