| August 23, 2008 Obama: "I want someone who's going to be able to challenge my thinking."
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(NECN/ABC) - The anticipation, speculation, and secrecy--over Barack Obama's running mate ended early this morning.
Leaks to the media revealed that Delaware Senator Joseph Biden was chosen.
Script: The choice of Delaware Veteran Senator Joseph Biden as Barack Obama's running mate gives the democratic ticket weight, but also some exposure. Biden, who was confirmed by the campaign website and text message, fills in many of Obama's perceived gaps.
Elected to the senate more than 35 years ago, he chairs the foreign relations committee.
A catholic who is proud of his working class roots, Biden was born in battleground state Pennsylvania, which democrats need to win in November.
This week, Obama said he wanted a strong vice president.
"I want someone who's going to be able to challenge my thinking."
But in a sign of the campaigning that's ahead, republicans released this commercial where Biden, at an ABC debate, was asked if Obama was ready to be president.
"You were asked is he ready. You said 'i think he can be ready, but right now i don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.'"
A Mccain spokesman reinforced this message in a statement, saying "there is no harsher critic of Barack Obama's lack of experience than Joe Biden."
Saturday afternoon Obama and Biden kick off their battleground state tour in Springfield, Illinois where Obama announced his intention to
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