Biden breaks his silence

Washington, Dec 21 (ANI): Barack Obama's transition team has kept Joe Biden under wraps longer than any vice-president going back at least 20 years - longer even than Dan Quayle, Politico.com has said.

Biden's first interview as vice president-elect airs Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" - 47 days after the election, setting a modern record.

Democratic sources say the president-elect hasn't been trying to muzzle Biden - who drew a public rebuff from Obama at least twice in the campaign for going off-message.

But Biden's Sunday interview, as well as a one-on-one Monday with CNN's Larry King, signal a new phase in the transition, one where Biden will take a more visible role, including working Capitol Hill to drum up support for an economic stimulus package before the inauguration, the website said.

Instead, they say these interviews, including one Monday with CNN's Larry King, are evidence of a new phase in the transition, one where Biden will take a more visible role, including working Capitol Hill to drum up support for an economic stimulus package before the inauguration.

"You'll be hearing a lot more from him in the days and weeks to come," said a Democratic official involved with the transition.

"We had a very narrow window of time starting the day after the election to ramp up and get all the Cabinet positions filled," the official said.

"People still want to hear from the people in place for the next administration, and this is sort of an obvious progression."

The newfound publicity also marks Biden's latest evolution within a disciplined Obama operation that has watered down the public traits that made Joe Biden, Joe Biden - the long-winded speeches, the off-the-cuff quips, even the gaffes. (ANI)