Biden gains in VP stakes with Obama announcement imminent

CHICAGO,

Barack Obama’s running mate was set to be unveiled in the coming hours with his Senate colleague Joseph Biden, a gaffe-prone foreign policy veteran, seemingly ahead of the pack late Friday.

A hotly awaited text message unveiling the Democratic White House hopeful’s vice presidential pick was expected to be sent Saturday morning, a few hours before a campaign event scheduled in Springfield, Illinois.

US networks said Biden, 65, had emerged on top after Obama, according to unidentified sources, broke the news to two other contenders — Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine — that they were out.

ABC News said a detail of Secret Service agents had been sent to assume Biden’s protection in preparation for his possible new role as an official candidate for high office.

The VP speculation went off the scale heading into next week’s Democratic convention in Denver

(AFP)