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August 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am

Video: Barack Obama Picks Joe Biden as VP: Obama Biden 08

Barack Obama and Joe Biden, August 2007

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama had chosen Senator Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential running mate, sending the official text message out at around 3:00 a.m Eastern time on August 23, 2008, and finally ending the intense speculation of recent days.

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, Mr. Obama announced in text and e-mail messages early Saturday.

Barack Obama Joe Biden 2008 campaign graphic

New campaign graphic from the Barack Obama Web site

Mr. Obama’s 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 résumé, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama’s 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 — Mr. Obama opposed it from the start — Mr. Biden became a persistent critic of President George W. Bush’s policies in Iraq.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden, December 2007

The brief text message from the Obama campaign came about 3 a.m., less than three hours after word of the decision had begun leaking out. “Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!”

His e-mail announcement began: “Friend — I have some important news that I want to make official. I’ve chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.”

Source: Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate

Barack Obama and Joe Biden, April 2007

Prior to the official text message, the story broke last night via various media sources, notably a special report during CNN’s Lary King Live and Jake Tapper’s report that a U.S. Secret Service protective detail had been dispatched to Joe Biden’s residence.

The John McCain campaign swiftly responded.

For its part, once the news broke early this morning, the McCain campaign sent out a prepared ad hit on Obama selecting Biden. It uses a quote from Biden, who was critical of Obama during a presidential debate this cycle, saying that he stood by a statement that Obama was not “ready.” The ad also uses a quote from Biden praising McCain that is years old. When the quote was used in a McCain Web ad, Biden and other Democrats brutally dismissed it, asking, What’s happened to John McCain?
*** UPDATE *** Despite the ad, NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports, McCain is expected to call Biden later today to offer his congratulations, advisers said.

Source: Obama Picks Biden to be VP

Photo credit: Top Photo: Barack Obama and Joe Biden, August 2007, (John Gress/Reuters) 2nd Photo: Barack Obama and Joe Biden, December 2007 (Carlos Barria/Reuters); 3rd Photo: Barack Obama and Joe Biden, April 2007 (J. Scott/AP)

Here is an AP video news report on the Barack Obama Joe Biden VP selection

Here is an NBC News report on the Barack Obama Joe Biden VP selection

Here is a video of Senator Joe Biden which showcases his forceful, confrontational style on the floor of the Senate in March 2007, during a debate on the binding Iraq-withdrawal bill that would require George W. Bush to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq within one year. Joe Biden takes the Bush administration to task over the Iraq war.