New York, NY —

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's choice of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate is getting the thumbs-up from much of New York's political establishment. But the passing over of Hillary Clinton has baffled one of the New York Senator's longtime opponents.

Appearing on the ABC program "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," former New York City mayor and erstwhile presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani said Clinton should have been the obvious choice for Obama, because her addition would have given the Democratic party the best chance of winning.

GIULIANI: Senator Obama had 50 percent of the Democratic vote; Senator Clinton had 50 percent of the Democratic vote. It's kind of a no-brainer that that's your ticket.

REPORTER: Some of Clinton's Democratic supporters have expressed anger at reports that she was not even vetted for the VP spot. But Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod, also a guest on ABC's "This Week," denied those accusations, saying the New York Senator was consulted extensively.

AXELROD: [Obama] spent more time with Senator Clinton alone, talking about issues, than he has with Joe Biden or anyone else in the last couple of months.

REPORTER: Axelrod went on to point out that Both Senator Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will be featured prominently at the convention. He says their speeches will help the Democrats emerge from the Denver gathering as a united party.