Obama, Biden Make First Appearance Together As Running Mates

In their first campaign appearance together as running mates — and only appearance together until the end of next week’s Democratic convention — Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaigned Saturday at a rally in Springfield, Ill., held at the spot where Obama launched his bid for the White House. Obama told the raucous crowd, many of whom had waited up to three hours to get their first glimpse of the Democratic duo, that for months he searched for “a leader who shares my vision” of an open government and who is ready to be president. “Today, I have come back to Springfield to tell you that I’ve found that leader — a man with a distinguished record and a fundamental decency — Joe Biden,” he said. “Joe Biden is that rare mix. For decades, he has brought change to Washington, but Washington hasn’t changed him.” Obama said he was “confident that we can take this country in a new direction, that we are ready to overcome ... (link)