At 19.11 on Sunday 24 August, 2008, we received an email headed  ‘Hello’ from Senator Joe Biden, new Vice-Presidential running mate to Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

The Obama campaign’s mastery of the internet and digital communications has already been noted: texting the choice of his No 2 direct to supporters was just the most recent demonstration.

So it was no surprise that, within 24 hours of being nominated, Biden had been plugged straight into the Obama campaign’s huge worldwide database and was sending out a personal YouTube video message.

Ten out of ten for lightning-fast communications and being so web savvy.

But the message was as equally impressive as the medium.

Most British politicians haven’t a clue how to use the internet to communicate, or to engage in conversation with the millions of people logging on. Their woeful attempts to enter the 21st century can be excruciatingly painful to watch. Like your grandad suddenly being ‘cool’.

Sixty-five-year-old Biden’s video message was refreshingly unpatronising to the Obama digital generation.
“I’m deeply honoured to join Barack and the millions of supporters like you, in this movement you’ve built together,” the veteran senator graciously intoned.

He went on to pay tribute to the grassroots nature of the Obama campaign for change.

“I’m here to join the team and follow the example of millions of people who are already organising all across the country….I want to thank you again for making me so welcome as the newest member of this team.”

Cynics may congratulate Obama’s brilliant scriptwriters for their cleverness in constructing such a humble approach for a veteran Washington insider.

But they might also agree that, in politics, the tone adopted is crucial.

And in his first YouTube video, Biden struck exactly the right note.

You can view the video here http://my.barackobama.com/joebidenvideo