Health Story

03 December 2008 01:57 BST

Biden is Obama's choice for VP

Delaware senator Joe Biden has been unveiled by Barack Obama as his running-mate for the United States' 2008 presidential election.

The Democrat party's presumptive nominee announced the move to supporters by text message and his choice was confirmed by a message on the Obama campaign's website.

Mr Biden appeared with Mr Obama at a campaign rally in Springfield in Mr Obama's home state of Illinois this afternoon.

Mr Obama said: "Joe won't just make a good vice president – he will make a great one.

"After decades of steady work across the aisle, I know he'll be able to help me turn the page on the ugly partisanship in Washington, so we can bring Democrats and Republicans together to pass an agenda that works for the American people."

Republican rival John McCain is yet to announce his vice-presidential candidate but is expected to do so on August 29th, his birthday, according to reports.

Analysts say Mr Biden, who has been chair of the Senate foreign relations committee since January 2006, will provide an Obama administration with the experience it needs in foreign affairs.

Mr McCain's campaign has already criticised Mr Obama for his lack of experience when it comes to international relations.

Mr Obama and Mr Biden will be anointed by the Democrat party at their convention, which takes place in Denver, Colorado, from Monday.

His preferred VP candidate has served as senator for Delaware since 1972 and so has a wealth of political experience backing him.

His most notable achievement is 1994 legislation setting up shelters and a national hotline for abused wives in the US.

And Mr Biden is currently working on a crime bill which will add 50,000 new police officers to focus on local crimes.

Critics say he can be excessively outspoken, however. And he has previously been criticised for plagiarising British politician Neil Kinnock's speeches.