August 24, 2008
Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate
By ADAM …
August 24, 2008
Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY
WASHINGTON %u2014 Senator Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware to be his running-mate, turning to a leading authority on foreign policy and a longtime Washington hand to fill out the Democratic ticket, people told of the decision said.
Mr. Obama%u2019s selection ended a two-month search that was conducted almost entirely in secret. It reflected a critical strategic choice by Mr. Obama: To go with a running-mate who could reassure voters about gaps in his resume, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama%u2019s message of change.
Mr. Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is familiar with foreign leaders and diplomats around the world. Although he initially voted to authorize the war in Iraq %u2014 Mr. Obama opposed it from the start %u2014 Mr. Biden became a persistent critic of President Bush%u2019s policies in Iraq.
The selection was disclosed as Mr. Obama moves into a critical part of his campaign, preparing for the party%u2019s four-day convention in Denver starting on Monday. Mr. Obama%u2019s aides viewed the introduction of his vice presidential choice%u2013 including an afternoon rally Saturday at the old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., the same place where Mr. Obama announced his candidacy on a freezing winter morning almost two years ago, and a tour of swing states %u2013 as the beginning of a week-long stretch in which Mr. Obama hopes to dominate the stage and position himself for the fall campaign.
Word of Mr. Obama%u2019s decision leaked out hours before his campaign was scheduled to inform supporters via text and e-mail messages, and hours after informing two other top contenders for the vice presidential nomination %u2013 Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia %u2013 that they had not been chosen.
As the selection process moved to an end, Sena...
