Biden Ran a Tough Campaign to Land Veep Spot

Joe Biden didn’t sit back and wait for Barack Obama to select him. The senator’s aides lobbied vigorously on his behalf, the Wall Street Journal reports in a look behind the scenes, accentuating his blue-collar appeal and foreign policy bona fides, while throwing elbows at other contenders. When word broke that Evan Bayh’s wife made millions trading corporate bonds, Bidenites reminded Obama of Jill Biden’s modest teacher’s salary.

Aides also said Biden would make a strong attack dog, despite his long friendship with John McCain. Challenged on his verbosity, they countered that at least Biden understood issues—unlike President Bush. The pivotal moment came during a “spirited and pragmatic” 90-minute sit-down just before Obama's vacation—and only days later Biden was trotting off to deal with the Georgian crisis.
(More Obama 2008 stories.)