by Molly McCall

After Barack Obama tapped Joe Biden for his running mate, searches for the Delaware senator leapt. But he's not the only Biden to stir up buzz since the announcement was made.

Over the past four days, demand for Joe Biden's wife, Jill, has vaulted upwards in Yahoo! Search. The day after Obama announced his V.P. pick, it was Mrs. Biden who soared into the top five movers for the day. Yesterday, the fourth fastest moving "biden" query didn't seek "joe biden policies" or "joe biden background," but more on the man's better half: "jill biden." 

Searchers want to know what the lady looks like ("jill biden photos"), how she's associated with her home state ("jill biden delaware"), what her background is ("jill biden biography"), and how old she is ("how old is jill biden," "jill biden age"). Don't they know it's not polite to ask? (She's 57.)

Reporters and bloggers are no less curious. Articles moving up Yahoo! Buzz range from a general profile of the English professor to a "study" of her scarf-wearing ways. People.com covered Michelle Obama's reaction to Mrs. Biden joining the ticket (positive) and a columnist for Huffington Post aired his views of the wife and mother (even more positive). Isn't the getting-to-know-you phase sweet?

Of course, this kind of lasered consideration of a political spouse isn't new. Since the presidential campaigns began, Web surfers have invested massive amounts of time looking up everyone from Cindy McCain to Michelle Obama to Jeri Thompson (remember her?) Neither have online investigators restricted their searchings to Mr. and Mrs. Biden. Interest in the couple's kids—Ashley, Hunter, and Beau—has risen, as has curiosity about Joe Biden's first wife, Neilia Biden, who died in 1972. But the speed and determination with which searchers have sought more on Biden's second wife and partner of more than 30 years has far outpaced everyone else. 

Welcome to the Buzz, Jill Biden.