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The shock announcement ends weeks of speculation over who the president would ultimately pick for the vice presidency, while questions have already arisen around Biden's suitability for the job.
"While he is a thoroughly nice guy, it's difficult to pinpoint his actual recent record," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, looking at a copy of Biden's resume. "I mean sure, he's made the occasional visit to see our troops in Afghanistan and has presented a bunch of people with medals. But he just... he hasn't done much else."
However, unveiling Biden to voters Tuesday, Obama defended the 69-year-old's record over the last four years, insisting that Biden has "always been there when I've needed him most."
"Let me be clear," announced the president. "Joe Biden is a really great guy to have around: he's... he's funny; he's compassionate; and generally he's just, you know, he's one of life's good guys."
"Joe is Joe," he continued. "That's kind of what I like about him."
Meanwhile, Biden insisted that he will work really hard over the next three months, just so that he can at least "attend a load more of those state dinners."