Obama chooses Biden as running mate
Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama announced that he has chosen the person who will join him on the Democratic presidential ballot.
Obama reported his selection of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., in a text message at 3 a.m. on Saturday. He also made an official statement on his Web site.
“Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee,” the message said. “Spread the word.”
Obama also sent out an e-mail to supporters announcing his selection shortly after the text message.
“I have some important news that I want to make official,” the e-mail said. “I’ve chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.”
Obama said in the e-mail that he is excited about hitting the campaign trail with Biden. The e-mail also invited supporters to go to Obama’s campaign Web site and send a personal welcome note to Biden.
Biden is serving his sixth term in the Senate and brings his experience as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Obama’s campaign.
Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain reacted quickly to Obama’s announcement.
“There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama’s lack of experience than Joe Biden,” McCain spokesman Ben Porritt said in a statement released Saturday morning. “Biden has 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.”
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.; and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine were considered also for the spot on the ticket, CNN reported.
Obama and Biden will appear for the first time together at 2 p.m. Saturday in Springfield, Ill., where Obama kicked off his campaign more than 19 months ago.