Obama Picks Joe Biden As Running Mate

35-Year Senate Veteran From Delaware Brings Foreign Policy Experience To Ticket As Democrat's Choice For V.P.

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama has selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware to be his vice presidential running mate, CBS News confirmed late Friday, balancing his ticket with an older congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues.

Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a Catholic with blue-collar roots, a generally liberal voting record, and a reputation as a long-winded orator.

Across more than 30 years in the Senate, he has served at various times not only as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee but also as head of the Judiciary Committee, with its jurisdiction over anti-crime legislation, Supreme Court nominees and Constitutional issues.

In selecting Biden, Obama passed over several other potential running mates, none more prominent than Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, his tenacious rival in dozens of primaries and caucuses.

“This is not exactly a 'safe' selection for Obama,” said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. “With over 30 years of baggage accumulated in the U.S. Senate, Biden is not the kind of running mate you would think of for someone who has campaigned on a pledge to change the way politics is done in Washington."

"But it does signal that Obama may be more of a realist than his rhetoric suggests," Ververs added, "and shows that the ‘change’ candidate has decided that a wealth of ‘experience’ may be important to an administration after all.”

Around 3:00 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday morning, a few hours after media outlets first reported the choice, the Obama campaign sent a text message and e-mail to supporters making it official.

"Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee," said the text message. "Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!"

The debut for the newly-minted ticket will take place outside the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., while hundreds of miles to the west, carpenters, electricians, sound stage gurus and others transformed the Pepsi Center in Denver into a made-for-television convention venue.

Tucked away in one corner were thousands of lightweight rolled cardboard tubes, ready-made handles for signs bearing the names of the Democratic ticket - once the identity of Obama's running mate was known.

While Obama decided against adding Clinton to his ticket, he has gone to great lengths to gain the confidence of her primary voters, agreeing to allow her name to be placed in nomination at the convention and permitting a roll call vote that threatens to expose lingering divisions within the party.

"In naming my colleague and friend Sen. Joe Biden to be the vice presidential nominee, Sen. Obama has continued in the best traditions for the vice presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant," Clinton said in a statement. "Sen. Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president who will help Sen. Obama both win the presidency and govern this great country."

Biden slowly emerged as Obama's choice across a long day and night of political suspense as other contenders gradually fell away.

First, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine let it be known that he had been ruled out. Then came word that Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana had also been passed over.

Several aides to Clinton said the Obama campaign had never requested financial or other records from her.

Other finalists in the veep sweepstakes were Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Texas Rep. Chet Edwards.

Obama called Biden on Thursday evening to offer him the job. Michelle Obama called his wife, Jill, this morning.

Among those on the short list, Biden brought the most experience in defense or foreign policy - areas in which Obama is rated relatively poorly in the polls compared with McCain.

While the war in Iraq has been supplanted as the campaign's top issue by the economy in recent months, the recent Russian invasion of Georgia has returned foreign policy to the forefront.

"The top advisers around Senator Obama over the last two weeks said to him, look, we need to add heft to this ticket," reported CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer on CBS' The Early Show Saturday morning. "Every poll shows people like you but they do note you don't have experience. Biden adds heft to the ticket."

In addition to foreign policy experience, Biden, a native of Scranton, Pa., has working-class roots that could benefit Obama, who lost the blue-collar vote to Clinton during their competition for the presidential nomination.

Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972 at the age of 29.

In the decades since, he become a power in the Senate, presiding over confirmation proceedings for Supreme Court nominees as well as convening hearings to criticize President Bush's handling of the Iraq War. (pictured at left: Biden during the Senate's confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991.)

Biden voted to authorize the war, but long ago became one of the Senate's surest critics of the conflict.

Obama worked to keep his choice secret, although he addressed the issue broadly during the day in an interview.

"Obviously, the most important question is: Is this person ready to be president?" Obama told CBS' The Early Show. Second, he said, was: "Can this person help me govern? Are they going to be an effective partner in creating the kind of economic opportunity here at home and guiding us through some dangerous waters internationally?"

And, he added: "I want somebody who is going to be able to challenge my thinking and not simply be a 'yes-person' when it comes to policymaking."

Biden spent Friday at his home in Delaware with friends and family. The normally loquacious lawmaker maintained a low profile as associates said they believed - but did not know - he would be tapped. They added they had been asked to stand by in case their help was needed.

No sooner had word spread of his selection than the campaign of presumptive GOP nominee John McCain unleashed its first attack. Spokesman Ben Porritt said in a statement that Biden had "denounced Barack Obama's poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing - that Barack Obama is not ready to be president."

Early Saturday morning, McCain's campaign released an advertisement showing Biden being asked, during a Democratic primary debate, if he stands by an earlier statement that he does not believe Obama is ready to be president.

“I think that I stand by the statement," Biden is shown saying. He also says in the spot that he "would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off."

Biden dropped out of the 2008 race for the Democratic presidential nomination after a poor finish in the Iowa caucuses, but not before he talked dismissively of joining someone else's ticket.

"I am not running for vice president," he said in a Fox interview. "I would not accept it if anyone offered it to me. The fact of the matter is I'd rather stay as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee than be vice president."

It was his second try for the White House. The first ended badly in 1988 when he was caught lifting lines from a speech by British Labor Party leader Neil Kinnock.

Biden is seeking a new Senate term in the fall. There was no immediate word whether he intended to change plans as he reaches for national office.


Background On Biden

NAME: Joseph Robinette Biden
BORN: Nov. 20, 1942 in Scranton, Pa. Age 65.
EXPERIENCE: U.S. senator, 1972-present; New Castle County Council, 1970-72; sought presidential nomination, 1988, 2008.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in history and political science, University of Delaware, 1965; law degree, Syracuse University, 1968.
FAMILY: Married Neilia Hunter in 1966; three children, Beau, Hunter, and Naomi. His wife and daughter Naomi died in a car crash in 1972. Married Jill Jacobs in 1977; one daughter, Ashley. Beau Biden is now Delaware's attorney general.

[tmcoop]

Where are the sources listed for the article?

[davescbss]

Yes!!! Obama now has the experience he needs to be president!!! Hope, Change, & Experience!!!
Obama-Biden''08

[erb0087]

I mean, Barack Obama has picked a mainstream Irish-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that''s a storybook, man !

[grammawhamma]

Bye bye Barack. Bye bye Biden.

The republicans are happy tonight!! Good night all.

[downtowner97]

Cheney has greatly expanded the role of the Vice President. Think of what the office of VP was like when it was held by Dan Quayle. Biden pointed out everything that was missing in Obama''s resume, Obama listened, and now he''s filled out his resume with the perfect pick.

McCain can now pick someone who can push him in a wheelchair and wipe his chin after he eats his boiled veggies.

[viscor]

What a waste of an incredible opportunity Obama! It%u2019s yet again a very sad day for American politics. History could have been made with a certainty of capturing the White House for the Democrats but instead you%u2019ve cast the forthcoming election into doubt and proven to have a lack vision and intelligence. In addition you%u2019ve just alienated 50% of registered voters. Your campaign tactics are astounding.

Clinton would have clinched the White House for the Democrats. I just bet the Republicans and %u201Chigh fiving%u201D all over America tonight.

It%u2019s looking like a vote for %u201CNone of the above%u201D is in order.

[Michael Arnold]

Keep waiting for that email from Obama, kids!

I think yoose guys got punked!

[soetorolies]

Biden is a decent guy,..too bad he got tied up in this whole Soetoro thing! Ouch!!

[oneamerican_]

Obama - Biden ''08;
No Hope, No Change.
Never mind.

[differnet]

Biden is the tactic admission that Obama lacks the experience to be President.

[ourtomorrows]

McCain can now pick someone who can push him in a wheelchair and wipe his chin after he eats his boiled veggies.

Posted by downtowner97

Joe is less than 7 years younger than McCain and has had his own health battles over the years. If Obama is elected, by the end of his first term Biden will be 69. I think the age issue for McCain is going to be problematic to keep picking on, Obama picked a man of basically the same generation.

[oneamerican_]

And don''t forget, folks -

Joe Biden voted FOR the War in Iraq.

(Before he decided he was against it, after it started).

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm....

I think Biden would be a bad choice. Reason being, he has a lot of baggage.

If folks have to pay $25 to $35 for an extra bag at the airport, Biden would have to pay something like $9,950 for all of his extra baggage.

Plus, Biden has the charisma of a rutabaga, and bad hair transplants to go with it.

If it is true that Senator Obama picked Biden, it would demonstrate that Obama is reasoning impaired.

Furthermore, I bet there will be a lot of celebrating in the McCain camp, because an Obama/Biden ticket will mean the Republicans will win.

To prevent THAT from happening, people will have to find a way to write in Hillary Clinton for president and Wesley Clark for vice president.

If enough people write in, it will assure a win for Clinton/Clark.

[oneamerican_]

"Biden voted in 2002 to authorize the Iraq invasion, which Obama opposed from the start. Since then, he''s become a firm critic of the conflict and pushed through a resolution last year declaring that Bush''s troop increase%u2014now considered a military success%u2014was "not in the national interest." "

What a pair of poor decision-makers these two would be.

Oh, well - if if they are not competent, at least they are evenly matched for each other.

[grammawhamma]

Hey...all you Obama supporters....did he forget to email you with his VP pick as he promised?

[oneamerican_]

From AP article:

"Biden voted in 2002 to authorize the Iraq invasion, which Obama opposed from the start. Since then, he''''s become a firm critic of the conflict and pushed through a resolution last year declaring that Bush''''s troop increase%u2014now considered a military success%u2014was "not in the national interest." "

What a pair of poor decision-makers these two would be.

Oh, well - even if they are not competent, at least they are evenly matched for each other...

[davescbss]

Obama now has the experience he needs to be president!!!

[soetorolies]

Did you get your text message yet?
It''s Obama Bin Biden,.....bummer dude!!

[soetorolies]

Obama now has the experience he needs to be president!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by DavesCBSs at 02:50 AM : Aug 23, 2008
______________________________________________________
Lamest post of the year.

[ranakarimi]

in behalf of millions of hard working american women and Hillary supporters i just like to congratulate senator McCain as our next president

[shameonbush]

WOW, I am so happy right now! Obama has managed to give me complete confidance in him, what a terrific choice!! I am a Biden supporter, he is simply the best. His brilliance never ceases to amaze me each time I hear him in an interview. Biden is extraordinary. Thank you President Obama!!!

[navvet2]

Great choice!! Wait until the RNC starts running clips of Joe Biden praising John McCain during the 2000 primaries. When asked if he would consider being a running mate for McCain, he gave an enthusiastic "Yes". He also voted for the Iraq war and then changed his mind when the political winds shifted. Maybe when Iraq is stable and our troops are out, he will say, "See, I told you it was a good idea".

[smirk5]

Of course the Pubes won''t approve. After all, Biden probably knows how many houses he owns.

[tawpdawg111]

Biden is no-nonsense guy. I love the pick. His chair Of Senate Foreign Relations Committee will shore up Baracks foreign policy inexperience and obama will learn buku from Joe.

I can''t wait for Biden to bust the bully McBush in the nose!

[sjbj2322]

Pride cometh before a fall and Obama seems to be all but intentionally pushing the self-destruct button. Amen....it''s about time this joke of a man showed his true colors. Change you can believe in has now become Change that baffles logic or any hope of actually winning this election. Obama supporters will endeavor to blame Hillary for his defeat but the truth of the matter is the later will finally have the advantage of being able to say, "WE TOLD YOU SO". Obama having picked a veteran politician only adds fuel to the fire that he too is having to deal with the fact that he doesn''t have the knowledge or experience for the position. Hahaha....payback isn''t a b!tch - it''s Yo Mommas!!! Kudos too to the men and young people who also comprise a considerable percentage of Hillary supporters who weren''t taken in by this charlatain.

[rickstas]

Biden is an an extreme letdown. Good thing Obama is exciting because Biden is dullsville.

[grammawhamma]

Posted by shameonbush at 03:00 AM : Aug 23, 2008

I think the Republicans are happier right now than you are! LOL

[dkhorse1]

Joe is less than 7 years younger than McCain and has had his own health battles over the years. If Obama is elected, by the end of his first term Biden will be 69. I think the age issue for McCain is going to be problematic to keep picking on, Obama picked a man of basically the same generation.

________________________________________
Posted by ourtomorrows at 02:38 AM : Aug 23, 2008

Biden is the tactic admission that Obama lacks the experience to be President.

________________________________________
Posted by differnet at 02:37 AM : Aug 23, 2008

Points well made!

[voidmaster-2009]

I read posts here criticizing Biden for what are nothing more than cosmetic issues. One poster even went so far as to imagine that lack of charisma or a poor choice of hairstyle ought to disqualify someone as a candidate. How adolescent.

In truth, this ticket would be better if the candidates swapped places. But who knows? America is clearly too superficial to vote based upon anything more than cosmetics.

While this may or may not increase Obama%u2019s prospects in November, it does at least mean that if they do win, the resulting administration will have some reasonable prospects of doing something good%u2014for a change.

[navvet2]

John S. McCain will be inaugurated as President of the USA on January 20, 2008. There''s going to be a lot of anger and bitterness from the Obama crowd when they find out that the "messiah" really can''t walk on water. In fact, he can barely swim.

[sjbj2322]

NavVet2 said, "Great choice!! Wait until the RNC starts running clips of Joe Biden praising John McCain during the 2000 primaries. When asked if he would consider being a running mate for McCain, he gave an enthusiastic "Yes"."

*********************************
Biden doesn''t care who offers him the position. It''s not something he wants to do for anyone other than himself as a final chapter to the story of his political career. McCain and the RNC will eat this one up.

[shameonbush]

I have a feeling that rich oil is suddenly scurring into meetings to discuss HAVING to lower gas prices in the near future. Thanks again Obama, great choice!!

[grammawhamma]

The only thing that could save the democratic party this election is if the delegates cast their votes for Hillary at the convention.

[sjbj2322]

VoidMaster....You call telling McCain that he would gladly run with him a cosmetic issue? How naive. The RNC will immediately start running ads on this one. Can you just see it. Poor Biden depicted as some dumb dog that''s willing to run after whoever throws the biggest stick rather than showing any loyalty to their party or master. This is sad....a very sad day for the DNC and anyone who can''t see that is electing to wear blinders while chasing after the same stick.

[navvet2]

Quite frankly, I am amazed that Obama picked Biden. He has repeatedly "denounced Barack Obama''s poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing - that Barack Obama is not ready to be president."

[justspiffy]

This is the best news I''ve heard this year. Yay for Obama picking Sen. Biden.
I will admit I wanted Sen. Biden for president long ago. But Obama and Biden have my vote.
How lucky can we be this is just a prayer that came true.

[incog-nito]

I see that Clinton''s supporters are still bitter.

[dkhorse1]

How can Obama run a platform of %u201Cchange%u201D when he nominates an old school, Washington insider like Biden? Seems like %u201Cchange%u201D was just to get him threw the primaries, now it%u2019s back to business as usual in Washington.

[sjbj2322]

Clinton supporters are anything but bitter. This is the best news that they could have asked for. Obama will go down in flames but at least he won''t have the opportunity to show what a joke of a President he would be. In the meantime we will do everything in our power to put Democrats in the House and Senate which will coincide with what Obama supporters will do guaranteeing that even though we will inevitably have a Republican President, we will have a Democratically controlled Congress. What next...HILLARY 2012!! No, we''re not bitter at all. We''re elated.

[voidmaster-2009]

With the addition of Biden on the Democratic ticket, it no longer really matters which side wins. In either case, there will be a dose of competency coupled with some liberal thinking. Not a bad change, really.

Biden%u2019s willingness to run on either ticket, irrespective of %u201Cparty loyalty%u201D actually makes him the best pick to HEAD either ticket. Good for Joe.

[grahampoor]

Welcome Mr. Biden,
As a fellow Catholic I hope you can help communicate how the Democatic ticket supports the set of policies that Pope John Paul''s "Seamless Web Of Life" asks us to aspire to.
God Bless You and God Bless America!

[avembe]

i''m really disappointed
It should have been Mrs SIBELIUS!!!!
that would have been just great!!!!!!!
However ,there''s no way that i vote for Mc CAIN

[sjbj2322]

VoidMaster....Watch who your calling names. My statement is regarding what the RNC will do with this announcement. Don''t doubt for a minute that they''ve already got their people all over it.

[navvet2]

GrammaWhamma

They won''t pick Hillary at the convention. For some strange reason, the DNC has decided to ram Obama down everyone''s throats whether we want him or not. Who knows, maybe a lot of cash changed hands. Obama seems to have unlimited funding to do anything he wants..

[incog-nito]

No, we''''re not bitter at all. We''''re elated.

Posted by sjbj2322 at 03:19 AM : Aug 23, 2008

Yeah sure. Whatever.

[incog-nito]

No, we''''re not bitter at all. We''''re elated.

Posted by sjbj2322 at 03:19 AM : Aug 23, 2008

Yeah sure. Whatever.

[voidmaster-2009]

I direct my criticism toward any implication that party loyalty should even be an issue. It should not. The American political system would be much better off if there WERE no political parties%u2014just individuals running for office.

[grahampoor]

Thanks for your service Mr. Biden,
As a fellow Catholic I hope you can help communicate how the Democatic ticket supports the set of policies that John Paul II''s "Seamless Web Of Life" asks us create in our societies.
God Bless You and God Bless America!

[maramara2]

Those who pose as Clinton supporters are not real supporters of Clinton else they will know that what they are doing is destroying Clinton''s ambition for president. If Obama loses this election which I think is impossible, Clinton herself will never be president because Clinton cannot win an election without Obama supporters.
I will prefare obama to lose this election than select a candidate base on pseudo pressure from the defeated candidate''s supporters.
The Clinton supporters have already destroyed her chance of becoming a VP. Please do not destroy her chances of ever running for elective office becuase supporter of the other candidates in this elections are not happy with the Clinton supporters and the campaign in general

The "Obama Express" rolls on.