Democrats favor Biden to be Obama’s No. 2

CHICAGO – Sen. Joe Biden has emerged as the favorite among Democrats to be Barack Obama’s running mate for his understanding of foreign policy in grave global times and his fighting spirit against the rival Republican ticket.

Obama is keeping his decision quiet, but his staff in Chicago and party activists who await a decision are buzzing about Biden in large part because he can address two of Obama’s biggest weaknesses – his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and his reluctance to go on the attack. The speculation is less of an indicator of whether Biden will ultimately be Obama’s pick, and more of a recognition of the challenges their candidate faces at this pivotal moment in the race.

Obama plans to appear with his newly selected running mate Saturday, with the pick announced via text message to supporters. Obama also is widely thought to be considering Govs. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.

Biden, 65, was first elected to represent Delaware in 1972. Obama was 11 at the time; half the people living in the U.S. were not born when Biden arrived on Capitol Hill. He is a curious front-runner to join a ticket headed by Obama, who prevailed during the primaries by making the case that he is an outsider who can bring change to Washington.

Obama’s running mate contenders have been instructed to be mum – a trait not considered Biden’s strong suit. But he has played by Obama’s rules, denying he was being vetted when he most likely was. He bluntly acknowledged he’d take the job if asked, while jokingly warning that Obama might not want him.

“I made it clear to him and everybody else, I never worked for anybody in my life,” he told reporters last month. “I got here when I was 29. I never had a boss. I don’t know how I’d handle it.”

He gave nothing away Wednesday, as reporters staked out his home in anticipation of the pick. The senator took a load of brush in the bed of a white Ford pickup truck to the dump. He returned about 2 1/2 hours later, saying he would be working on his property throughout the day and would have no further comment.