Biden seeks center in Obama's sphere of influence

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Barack Obama summoned congressional leaders for an urgent meeting last month, at the height of a fiscal crisis, Joe Biden wasn’t initially mentioned as a participant. The vice president’s staff quickly followed up with reporters, in case any had been wondering: Biden would be there, too.

On another occasion, Biden boasted at a sandwich shop that Delaware’s subs are superior to those in Chicago and Philadelphia. Then, he let the crowd know he couldn’t linger. “The president is waiting,” he announced to the room. “I’m having lunch with him today.”