Auburn native Brian McKeon, who has worked for Sen. Joseph Biden for 21 years, said Biden's selection as Barack Obama's running mate in the upcoming presidential election was a whirlwind of excitement for Biden's staff.

McKeon, who has worked for Biden since 1985, left Auburn in May 1985 after he graduated from the University of Notre Dame, he said. That October, he got a job answering constituent mail for Biden, a Democratic senator from Delaware. In 1988, he was promoted to a job involving foreign-policy work, which he did for seven years, he said. Though he left the Senate in 1995 to work for a judge and also worked for President Bill Clinton's campaign in 1996, he came back to work for Biden in 1997.

Brian's brother is Auburn City Court Judge Michael McKeon.

McKeon found out Saturday morning, along with the rest of the country, that Biden was named the Democratic vice presidential candidate, he said.

“Today is a very exciting day for Senator Biden and his family and the people who are close to him and work for him,” McKeon said. “We think he's a great addition to the ticket and will do a lot to help Senator Obama get elected. Everyone who works for him is excited because we know him best and have seen him in action both in public and behind the scenes and know of his enormous talent as a senator and policy maker and a politician. It's very exciting to see that Senator Obama has recognized that and added him to the ticket. I think it makes for a very strong Democratic team.”

McKeon is on the Senate foreign relations committee as the chief counsel and deputy staff director. He is not directly involved with the presidential campaign, he said.

“I really can't say that I know what's going to happen,” McKeon said about the prospect of working in the White House if Obama and Biden get elected. “Senator Obama has to get elected first, so everyone would be focused on that. I'm not worried about what comes after that.”

McKeon's favorite memory of Auburn is being here in the summer, he said. He comes home every year for the Great Race and has spent a lot of time either working or playing golf at the Auburn Country Club, which is now Lakeview Country Club, he said. He also has fond memories of being around Owasco Lake.

“I have a picture of Owasco Lake and a picture of Auburn and Owasco taped up on a wall in my office,” McKeon said. “I see that every day when I'm at work and it reminds me of many hours spent in those places.”

Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net