Biden picks former Gore aide as chief of staff

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Vice President-elect Joe Biden has picked former Al Gore aide Ron Klain to be his chief of staff, a Democratic official said on Thursday.

Klain is the latest ex-Clinton administration official selected for a high-profile job in the coming Barack Obama presidency.

A Washington lawyer, Klain was chief of staff and a counselor to Gore when the Nobel Peace Prize winner was vice president to President Bill Clinton.

His selection adds another layer of experience to Obama's White House. Obama has picked former Clinton aide Rahm Emanuel, a Democratic representative from Illinois, as his chief of staff.

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta is playing a leading role in running Obama's presidential transition.

Biden was to pay a visit to Vice President Dick Cheney later on Thursday.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Bill Trott)