Democrats we have a Ticket
August 23, 2008Obama-Biden ticket ready to debut
Story Highlights
NEW: ‘Sen. Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president,’ Clinton says
Democrat Obama picks Delaware senator as his running mate
Text message announcing Obama’s selection goes out early Saturday
Biden to appear with Obama at Springfield, Illinois, rally on Saturday
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Thousands of supporters were expected at a Saturday rally in Springfield, Illinois, to see the debut of Sen. Barack Obama and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as a presidential ticket.
Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, announced his selection of Biden as his running mate with a 3 a.m. text message and a statement on his official Web site.
“Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee,” the text message said.
“Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois — the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago,” Obama said in an e-mail sent to supporters Saturday morning.
“I’m excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can’t do this alone,” he wrote. “We need your help to keep building this movement for change.”
Before the text messages were distributed, multiple Democratic sources confirmed to CNN early Saturday that Obama wanted the Delaware senator as his vice president. Watch Biden and Obama at 3 p.m. ET on CNN.com Live
