Biden could forge unique role as US vice president

Washington, Nov.13 : U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden could carve out a unique role in Barack Obama's administration as an adviser, congressional liaison and foreign policy expert, reports Fox News.

With more than 35 years in the U.S. Senate under his belt, Biden will be unusually influential, but not a high-profile, vice president, claims Democratic pollster Doug Schoen. At 65 years of age, he's a seasoned Washingtonian, having twice run unsuccessfully for president, and is unlikely to use the vice presidency as a springboard to the Oval Office.

Schoen said that Biden would probably not try to exert the same level of influence as his predecessor Dick Cheney, but play a meaningful role behind the scenes. Schoen said Biden's background in foreign policy could make him a key adviser on international issues and land him in somewhat of a diplomatic position, a "cross between secretary of state and national security adviser."

"I think that Biden's voice will be listened to very carefully," said Joseph Pika, political science professor at the University of Delaware, Biden's alma mater.

"He's going to be a full senior player in those foreign policy discussions."

Biden has said he will not take on any specific portfolio, but rather serve as an adviser for all seasons to Obama.

"Every major decision he'll be making, I'll be sitting in the room to give him my best advice," Biden said at the October vice presidential debate in Missouri.

Obama told CBS News in late August that he wants Biden to be able to catch "any blind spots that I have" when it comes to both domestic and international policy, and give him a different perspective.

Eric Lawrence, assistant professor of political science at George Washington University, said Biden's years in the Senate will be a big boon for the Obama administration in the early days.

ANI