After weeks of anticipation, Sen. Barack Obama announced his choice for a vice-presidential running mate on August 23.  Joe Biden, a six-term senator from Delaware, is the man who made the cut.

Although many Americans do not ultimately change their vote based on the vice-presidential running mate, they do look at this choice as one of the first important and reflective decisions made by the candidate whom they support.

Obama’s decision to add Biden to his ticket is a clear reflection that he has the type of judgment voters want to see in a presidential candidate. Obama has made the choice to surround himself with smart people who are experienced enough to fill in some of his gaps.

Sen. Biden brings a great deal of experience to the table and is considered a consummate Washington insider. He has represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate since 1972. The years he has spent in Washington are a helpful contrast to Obama’s relatively short political career. Biden has gained the respect of senators, both democrat and republican, which will ultimately help Obama transition if he is to win the White House.

One of the greatest strengths Biden brings to this ticket is his extensive foreign policy knowledge. For years he has served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Biden’s years of foreign policy experience help counter Obama’s lack thereof.

A running-mate with a deep-seated foreign policy background is crucial to Obama, not only because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but because of the instability in Pakistan, the conceivable nuclear threat from Iran and the continuous threat of another cold war.

Sen. Biden has outlined a strong education plan. He is in favor of longer school days and a minimum 16-year education. He believes there needs to be a performance-based pay structure for teachers. If adopted, his plan could succeed where No Child Left Behind has failed.

Biden is considered to be outspoken and straightforward. The benefit to this direct approach is that he calls it like it is. Biden is not afraid to call a spade a spade and over the years he has not shied away from who he is or the beliefs he holds.

Biden is a devout Catholic from the blue-collar town of Scranton, Pa., and despite his years in Washington, it seems he has not forgotten his roots. Twenty years ago when he underwent brain surgery for a life-threatening aneurysm, he asked his surgeon if he could tuck his rosary beads under his pillow. In 2005, the feisty senator offered to shove his rosary beads down the throat of the next Republican who said he was not religious. Although humorous, Biden’s reaction and his devotion to Catholicism may help him win the vote of many undecided blue-collar Catholics.

When it comes to health care, one of the biggest concerns among Americans, Biden has a strategic three-part plan. It is not a universal health care plan, but instead it is a plan that would help lower premiums and help make medical insurance more obtainable for all Americans.

For the vice presidential nomination, it is pretty clear that Biden was a smart choice for Obama. Biden is anything but a “yes man.” He is a passionate speaker, an excellent debater and he will make decisions based on what he truly believes to be in the best interest of this country. Biden balances Obama, and together, the two have the potential to be unstoppable.