State and national Republicans joined in assailing Obama's No. 2. They pointed to Biden's well-earned reputation as a windy politician prone to verbal gaffes and recalled the accusations of plagiarism that ended his first presidential try, in 1988.
"He's a 'do no harm' choice, but not a bold or inspired choice," said Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. "I think the Republicans dodged a bullet."
Reaction from Democrats was predictably positive.
Benjamin Cardin called Biden "fully prepared to become president." The Maryland senator noted that Obama wants a "full partner" who will help him govern and "is willing and able to challenge him on issues."
Hillary Clinton issued a two-sentence statement that said Obama had "continued in the best traditions for the vice presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic Vice President who will help Senator Obama both win the Presidency and govern this great country."
Selecting Biden isn't likely to mollify former Clinton supporters angry over how she's being treated by Obama. Reports that Clinton, who received some 18 million votes in the primaries, was not seriously considered for the ticket could make that task harder.
Some prominent supporters of Clinton's campaign were among those applauding Obama's decision, though.
Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, who said he wished that Clinton had been picked, said that Obama's choice of another primary rival showed that "he is comfortable in his own skin." He predicted that Biden's popularity among Jewish voters would help with that group, many of whose members are wary of Obama.
Bonnie Campbell, a Clinton campaign leader in Iowa, called Biden's selection "a master stroke." As a Justice Department official in Bill Clinton's presidency, Campbell oversaw the office that implemented the Violence Against Women Act, which Biden authored.
For "women who know full well his background in this area," she said, it "will mitigate some of the disappointment" that Clinton wasn't picked.
The last candidate from the mid-Atlantic region to join a national ticket was Democrat R. Sargent Shriver of Maryland. A member, by marriage, of the Kennedy clan, he became George McGovern's running mate in 1972 after Tom Eagleton was forced to step down when questions were raised about his mental health.
Four years earlier, Richard Nixon was elected with Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland. Amid a bribery scandal dating from his days as Baltimore County executive and Maryland governor, Agnew resigned the vice presidency in October 1973.
Earlier that same year, Biden took his seat as a newly elected senator from Delaware, following the death of his wife and daughter in a post-election auto accident. Out of that tragedy grew his signature routine of riding the rails twice daily on his commute between Washington and Wilmington, so he could spend each night with his family.
Baltimore Sun reporter David Nitkin contributed to this article.
