From the Chicago Tribune:
Still fired up by Barack Obama's first announcement on a bitterly cold day in February 2007, Chris Trudeau returned Saturday, buoyed by the throngs of people Obama has drawn across the country and throughout the world.
"I figured if it was good enough for 200,000 Europeans, it'll certainly do for me," Trudeau said.
They came to see an encore performance by Obama, the man who launched his presidential campaign last year at the foot of the same Old State Capitol where Abraham Lincoln once walked.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee energized thousands of cheering supporters who saw his first joint appearance with newly unveiled running mate Joe Biden, a fellow U.S. senator whose credentials played well with longtime Obama admirers and the newcomers.
Standing for hours in the heat, the crowd stayed calm, swigging bottled water before exploding into deafening roars, first for Obama and then for Biden.
Trudeau, a 25-year-old graphic designer from Springfield, viewed the moment as tantamount to ending slavery or giving women the right to vote.
"Eventually we come around and do the right thing, and Obama's a big step in coming around and doing the right thing," he said.
In a day of harmony, it also didn't hurt his relationship with his girlfriend, Becky VanDyke, when she said Biden was her favorite choice for vice president.
...
Glen Ellyn resident Kevin Johnson, a medical student at Southern Illinois University, got up at 4 a.m. and hit the road to Springfield to see his first "political role model."
"More than anything else, it feels like he speaks and says things and feels the way about things that are common sense," Johnson said.
The 25-year-old African-American endorsed Biden, partly because "he doesn't really take a lot of slack from Republicans."
From the Washington Post:
Sen. Barack Obama introduced Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. as his vice presidential running mate here on Saturday, embracing him as a "statesman with sound judgment" who had never forgotten his humble roots or lost his fundamental decency.
"Joe Biden is that rare mix. For decades, he has brought change to Washington, but Washington hasn't changed him," Obama (Ill.) said.
The announcement -- made official only hours earlier -- capped weeks of speculation and brought an infusion of experience and aggressiveness to the Democratic ticket two days before the start of the convention in Denver.
Biden, 65, a sharp-witted and energetic foreign policy expert who has held two of the most critical Senate chairmanships, bounded out onto the stage just after 2 p.m. Central time. The senator from Delaware hugged Obama and then, taking the podium as the vice presidential candidate for the first time....
Biden is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and also served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He commands a loyal, if small, clutch of followers in the battleground state of Iowa, having twice campaigned for president there.
His home state of Delaware has just three electoral votes, but he is originally from Pennsylvania, a critical swing state with 21.
...Obama and Biden made their joint debut in front of a crowd of tens of thousands at the old Illinois statehouse, where the presumptive Democratic nominee launched his campaign a year and a half ago. The first blue "Obama-Biden" signs were on display -- quickly produced under the cloak of secrecy as the campaign tried to keep the announcement from leaking.
In his introductory remarks, Obama described Biden's life story: as a boy raised on Catholic values in working-class Pennsylvania; as a young senator who lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident; as a senator who had fought against tyranny and injustice.
..."He is still that scrappy kid from Scranton who beat the odds -- the dedicated family man and committed Catholic who knows every conductor on that Amtrak train to Wilmington. That's the kind of fighter who I want by my side in the months and years to come," Obama said.
He described Biden as being "at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids" as well as on the world stage -- two settings in which Obama has struggled over the course of the race.
..."There's something about this guy, there's something about Barack Obama, that allows him to bring people together," Biden said. "It's been amazing to watch him, but then again, that's been the story of his whole life."
He said Obama has the "vision and courage" to improve the country, calling him a "clear-eyed pragmatist who will get the job done."
Senator Hillary Clinton:
In naming my colleague and friend Sen. Joe Biden to be the Vice Presidential nominee, Sen. Obama has continued in the best traditions for the Vice Presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Sen. Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic Vice President who will help Senator Obama both win the Presidency and govern this great country.
Governor Tim Kaine:
I am very excited that Sen. Obama has selected Senator Biden to be his running mate. Sen. Biden is a tremendous leader and a great complement to Sen. Obama and his candidacy. He has worked as a committed public servant, has a proven track record, and understands the complex challenges facing our nation. The Obama-Biden ticket provides the United States with a new and meaningful dialogue with world leaders and will improve America's standing with our allies and the global community.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius:
I’m delighted Senator Obama has chosen Joe Biden as his running mate. His extensive experience dealing with foreign policy issues are an asset in these complicated times. He will be a great partner for Barack Obama in bringing about the change so desperately needed in our country, and restoring to America our sense of optimism and hope for a brighter future. I am proud to support this incredible team.
Senator Chris Dodd:
Jackie and I congratulate our dear friend, Joe Biden, who will make an excellent running mate for Barack Obama, and more importantly a great Vice President. I have known Joe for almost 30 years and I've had the privilege of sitting next to him on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sharing the campaign trail both with him and Barack. I know this is a ticket that can win in November.
With rising gas prices, increasing health care and education costs, a damaged reputation across the world, and a struggling economy at home, the American people are ready for change. Barack Obama and Joe Biden represent that change. They will bring new leadership to the White House that will get our economy moving again, finally end the war in Iraq and our bring our troops home, ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care, and end our dependence on foreign oil.
Senator Claire McCaskill:
Joe Biden will make a great vice-president for our country. He knows what's important to hard-working Americans and their families, and he's not afraid to work across party lines to make things happen. He has put in place some of the strongest crime prevention legislation ever enacted and is the author of the Violence Against Women Act which has saved the lives of countless women across the country.
Senator Harry Reid:
Joe Biden has been fighting his entire career for the change that Sen. Obama champions. He is a dedicated family man who has been an effective chairman of both the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees, has been a sage voice on many of the toughest foreign policy issues of our time, and has long been a strong advocate for protecting American families and making our communities safer.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
Over his decades of public service and accomplishment, Senator Joe Biden has demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of all Americans. As our Vice Presidential nominee, he will bring his middle-class values -- the values he grew up with, the values of his constituents, and the values of the American people -- to this campaign and to put our country back on track.
DNC Chairman Howard Dean:
Senator Obama has made an outstanding selection in Joe Biden. Joe Biden is a strong leader, fierce advocate, and devoted family man with values rooted in the best of what America stands for. He will be a strong partner with Barack Obama in bringing the change America wants and needs.
Delegates here in Denver are already buzzing with strong enthusiasm for the Obama-Biden ticket.
Senator Obama's selection shows that unlike the Bush-McCain way of doing politics, Obama is not afraid to have strong people around him helping to lead our great country.
Together they will serve America well over the next eight years, and our Party is ready to rally behind them and put them on the path to the White House starting right here in Denver.
Senator Amy Klobuchar:
Minnesotans will love Joe Biden. He's a regular guy from a working middle-class family who has never owned a home in Washington. In fact, he takes the train home to his wife and family in Delaware every night. He's both down to earth and incredibly well respected around the world.
I was particularly proud to work with Joe when he led the fight to fund 100,000 new police officers on the streets across the country, which for Minnesota has made a big difference in lowering the crime rate. Barack Obama said he wasn't looking for a yes man, and by picking Joe Biden he adds to the ticket someone who has independent judgment and will truly help him bring change to this country.
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer:
Senator Biden was mentored by one of Montana 's own great leaders – Mike Mansfield," said Governor Schweitzer. "Mansfield, who worked in the mines of Butte before becoming a Senator understood the value of hard work and knew what a dollar was worth. So, does Joe Biden.
In Montana, where straight talk is what we expect from a neighbor, friend or someone running for office – Senator Biden won't disappoint.
And in a place where we like to see folks working together – like my Republican Lieutenant Governor, John Bohlinger and I to bridge partisan gaps and bring real solutions to the table, Joe Biden has shown time and time again to be that kind of leader.
