Obama picks Biden

The Hawaii-born presidential contender chooses a fellow senator for his running mate

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware late tonight to be his vice presidential running mate, according to a Democratic official, balancing his ticket with an older congressional veteran well-versed in foreign and defense issues.

Biden, who has twice sought the White House, is a Catholic with 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 and Constitutional issues.

The official who spoke did so on condition of anonymity, preferring not to pre-empt a text-message announcement the Obama campaign promised for tomorrow morning.

Obama's campaign arranged a debut for the newly minted ticket on Saturday outside the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.

The Democratic National Convention meets next week in Denver to hand Obama his long-sought presidential nomination, and then confirm Biden.

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.

Schatz values Biden's years in the Senate Hawaii Democratic Party chairman Brian Schatz said last night that he had been hoping Sen. Barack Obama would select Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate. "This is a dynamite team," he said. "There's nobody that you feel more comfortable with than Obama and Biden together." "You've got Obama's judgment and leadership and Biden's 30 years of accumulated knowledge and experience." He said Biden will present a good balance on the campaign trail and in the White House and has an excellent grasp of foreign policy issues. "Biden ... will have a lot of credibility," Schatz said. He "will use that to show how Obama's foreign policy vision is better for America."

Several aides to former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton -- who was Obama's closest rival for the presidential nomination -- said they believed she also was out of contention. They added the Obama campaign had never requested financial or other records from her.

Despite passing over Clinton, Obama has gone to great lengths to gain the confidence of her primary voters, agreeing to allow her name to be placed in nomination and permitting a roll call vote.

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

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 Republican Sen. John McCain.

A native of Scranton, Pa., he also has working-class roots that could benefit Obama, who lost the blue-collar vote to Clinton during their competition for the presidential nomination.

Biden, 65, was elected to the Senate at the age of 29 in 1973.

Biden spent the day 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.