Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate early Saturday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues.

Obama announced the pick on his Web site with a photo of the two men and an appeal for donations. A text message went out shortly afterward that said, "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee."

Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a Catholic with blue-collar roots, a generally liberal voting record and a reputation as a long-winded orator.

McCain camp slams Biden pick

"There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama's lack of experience than Joe Biden," said McCain spokesman Ben Porritt. "Biden has denounced Barack Obama's poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing -- that Barack Obama is not ready to be President."

Running against Obama for the presidency, Biden said nominating someone without national security credentials would be a "tragic mistake" and said that the presidency "is not something that lends itself to on-the-job-training."

ABC's Jake Tapper: 'Change you can xerox'

Biden withdrew from the Democratic primaries for the 1988 presidential campaign after it turned out he had lifted passages from British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock without attribution.

Politico's Jonathan Martin: Hitting Biden: The ego

Said GOP adman and noted quipster of the Obama-Biden ticket: "They've picked the only guy in Washington who thinks he's a bigger celebrity than Barack Obama."

"It's the Britney-Paris ticket."

Barack Obama told everyone he wanted a running mate who will challenge his thinking, and now he's got one. Joe Biden's tendency to speak his own mind—and speak and speak—is entwined in his DNA.

Wolfson: Biden is second-best pick Obama could make

RealClearPolitics: Experience trumps change

So much for change...

NYPost: Blowhard could be just what Obama needs

He makes his point - often two or three times - quite bluntly, but always colorfully and memorably. And it's usually Biden who makes the evening news and the next day's papers.

Ron Fournier: Biden pick shows lack of confidence

In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his runing mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness -- inexperience in office and on foreign policy -- rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.

He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate -- the ultimate insider -- rather than a candidate from outside Washington...