Via The Hill:

Vice President Biden’s speaking spot at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night reflects the role he has played in the administration: He’s always the last one in the room with President Obama and the one who can best portray the president’s decision-making skills.

Aides say Obama wanted his vice president and two-time running mate to speak on Thursday night because he believes there’s no better advocate of his policies and no one who has seen him in the trenches quite like his sidekick.

During the speech — which isn’t expected to immediately precede Obama’s address — aides say Biden will highlight the president’s accomplishments and his character in a way only Biden can.

“He is the president’s partner, No. 1 surrogate, and he has been in the rooms where big decisions have been made,” an Obama campaign aide said.

Biden “has seen a lot of the tough decisions the president has made up-close and he is a firsthand witness to the strength of character that he’s shown,” the aide added.

In recent months, the campaign has used Biden in the traditional attack-dog role, even deploying him last week to Tampa, Fla., as Republicans convened for the GOP convention.