The speeches proved unavailing in the 2008 Democratic primaries; he dropped out after placing fifth in Iowa in January, 2008. Biden has since become Barack Obama's vice-presidential running mate. Biden stresses his Irish Catholic roots in appeals to working class Democrats, who deserted Obama in the primaries. | The speeches proved unavailing in the 2008 Democratic primaries; he dropped out after placing fifth in Iowa in January, 2008. Biden has since become Barack Obama's vice-presidential running mate. Biden stresses his Irish Catholic roots in appeals to working class Democrats, who deserted Obama in the primaries. |