Joe Biden says he needs a strong vice president because he's old and might die in office. To sane people, that sounds like an excellent reason not to pick Biden to lead a ticket. Had Trump said it, the media would shout that he had threatened Biden and would insist that it be added to the list of non-reasons to impeach Trump.

Perhaps that would be preferable to the impeachment noise.

The whole idea of a vice president is in case the president dies in office or gets incapacitated. A veep is "strong" in office only if the prez allows it; if Biden means strong in the physical sense, then he'd better pick some hulking man and not a woman. Not even nutball feminists claim that women are as physically strong as men.

Adding to the hilarity is that Biden has mooted Michelle Obama as a running mate. Now, Michelle's strength is a matter of public record — she could do more pushups than Barack, probably more chin-ups, and nobody ever doubted that she could beat him up. Biden, too. She's got the "strong" part down.

But you gotta admit, this is a novel way to ask for votes. Vote for me because I might croak in office. If anybody but Joe Biden said it, we'd all smirk and forget. But Joe doubles down before anybody even has a chance to furrow a brow. "No, I'm serious," says he.

We know you're serious, Joe. That's the worrisome part.