Outgoing Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner announced yesterday that Ted Kaufman, former Biden chief of staff, will be appointed to the United States Senate when Vice-President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.

Kaufman served as Biden's top congressional staffer from 1975-1994, in addition to two years in a legislative position. Since 1991, the Senatorial-designee has been a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke University as well as teaching at the Fuqua School of Business. In 1995, he was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a charter member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the commission that oversees the federal government's radio broadcasting operations, including Radio Free Europe and Asia, Radio and TV Marti, as well as The Middle East Broadcasting Network.

There is speculation that Kaufman will hold the position for Beau Biden, Attorney General of Delware, who may consider running for his father's office when it comes up for election in 2010, and once he has finished his tour of duty in Iraq.