Sen. Barack Obama chose Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his presidential running mate Saturday.
Before a vast crowd spilling out from the front of Illinois' Old State Capitol, Obama said Biden was "what many others pretend to be - a statesman with sound judgment who doesn't have to hide behind bluster to keep America strong."
"Biden was the best choice on his list. (He is) strong on foreign policy and (has) great ideas in a lot of other areas," said Erik Mellgren, president of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Young Democrats.
Mellgren, a junior biology and philosophy major, is one of the students at UNL who support Obama's decision.
"It shows that Obama does not just care about winning the election. He wants to build the best possible administration he can," he said.
Democrats quickly united around Obama's selection of the long-time Delaware senator.
Paul Krueger, a senior music education major, is glad to see Obama choose Biden as his running mate.
"I supported Biden first, even before Obama," Krueger said. "I'm happy to see him on the ticket with Obama."
The Democratic National Convention begins in Denver on Monday to nominate Obama as president and Biden as vice president, the ticket that Democrats hope to ride into the White House after eight years of Republican rule.
"(Biden) shares my ideals," Krueger said. "I think he has both the judgement and experience to be a great president if something would happen. He is a great man to help Obama govern effectively."
During the joint speech in Illinois, Obama spoke of Biden's accomplishments in the Senate, focusing on his foreign policy experience.
"I can tell you Joe Biden gets it," Obama said. "He's that unique public servant who is at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids and the corridors of the Capitol, in the VFW hall in Concord and at the center of an international crisis.
"He's an expert on foreign policy whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class."
After his appearance with Obama in Illinois, Biden returned to Delaware to prepare for the fall campaign. Obama returned to Chicago before starting a trip across swing states en route to the convention.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
jamieklein@dailynebraskan.com
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