Biden contradicts wife on Veep-State choice

Vice President-elect Biden’s office contradicted Biden’s wife Jill
Monday, denying her suggestion that Barack Obama offered him the choice
of Veep or secretary of State.

{mosads}Biden’s wife Jill caused some confusion when she said
Monday on “Oprah” that her husband was given a choice, and he accepted the vice
presidency because the head of the State Department travels too much.

Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement
that Jill Biden, “like anyone who followed the presidential campaign this
summer,” knew there was a chance Obama would ask Biden to serve in some way
should he win the presidency.

Alexander said that “given his background, the positions
of vice president and secretary of state were possibilities.”

“Dr. Biden’s point to Oprah today was that being vice
president would be a better fit for their family because they would get to see
him more and get to participate in serving more,” Alexander said. “To be clear,
President-elect Obama offered Vice President-elect Biden one job only — to be
his running mate. And the vice president-elect was thrilled to accept the
offer.”