SUPPORTERS: Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama makes a
speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on August 28

A statement on Obama's Website said Biden "brings extensive foreign policy experience, an impressive record of collaborating across party lines, and a direct approach to getting the job done."

Foreign policy experience is what Obama lacks most. His choice of foreign-affairs veteran Biden was unsurprising at a time when the crisis in Georgia was dominating headlines and Obama was declining in the polls.

"Russia's invasion of Georgia reinforced the American worry about international tensions," said French political analyst Dominique Moisi, quoted in an Associated Press report. The choice of Biden was intended to reassure voters concerned about Obama's experience.

Biden is one of the most experienced lawmakers in the U.S. Congress, having entered the Senate in 1973 at age 30-32 years before Obama and 14 years before McCain. As he pointed out in his autobiography Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics, Biden has witnessed major historical events like the Viet Nam War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, observed Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and two Bushes, and traveled to war zones in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He currently chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Biden pick, though not entirely without problems, is widely considered a safe choice. Robin L.B. Selinger, a professor at Kent State University and an Ohio delegate at the DNC, said that choosing Biden, an experienced politician respected by both parties, showed "wisdom and judgment."

In an MSNBC survey that drew more than 90,000 votes, 69.1 percent said Obama picked the right candidate, 25.4 percent said he should have picked someone else, and 5.5 percent were not sure.

Biden quickly adapted to his new role as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. In his formal debut at the convention on August 27, he did exactly what he needed to do in his role as attack dog, a critical function for running mates.

Despite calling McCain a friend and recognizing his service in the Viet Nam War, Biden spared no effort in attacking the Republican presidential nominee by connecting him to the unpopular Bush administration and by ridiculing McCain for not knowing how many houses he and his wealthy wife own at a time when many Americans are struggling to pay for one home. He also contrasted the candidates' positions on tax policy, the war in Iraq and health care.

"The choice in this election is clear," Biden said. "These times require more than a good soldier; they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change-the change everybody knows we need."

Does the vice president matter?

Will Biden's addition to the Democratic ticket make a big difference in Obama's campaign for the White House?