Joe Biden says he's picked his VEEP, then campaign takes it back

JOE Biden has selected his running mate for the 2020 presidential election, according to Fox News.

However Biden's press secretary TJ Ducklo has said the announcement, made while Biden was out riding his bike, was "clearly a joke".

Video footage shows a Fox reporter asking Biden: "Have you picked a running mate yet?"

Biden can be heard to reply: "Yes I have."

However, when asked by Fox reporter Peter Doocy, who he'd picked, he joked "you".

TJ Ducklo, Biden's national press security, clarified via Twitter: "Folks, this is clearly a joke. When Vice President Biden has made a decision on who his running mate will be, he will let the American people know. And can confirm, it's not @pdoocy of @FoxNews."

A number of reporters appear to believe Biden was simply joking, with a Washington Post media journalist speculating: "Seems like he's clearly doing a bit here?"

Biden had previously said there were four Black women among his shortlist of running mates.

He is expected to announce his running mate sometime before the start of the Democratic Convention on August 17.

Biden is set to take on Donald Trump in the presidential election on November 3 in a contest that has been redefined by the coronavirus pandemic and the death of George Floyd.

Rumored candidates for Biden include Senator Kamala Harris, who competed in the primary against him, and Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Another candidate he is also thought to be considering congresswoman Val Demings, who was previously Orlando's police chief, and California congresswoman Karen Bass.

Biden is also believed to be weighing up former Obama adviser Susan Rice, and  former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Biden has said he is going to have "personal discussions" with each candidate on the shortlist once they have been vetted before deciding on his running mate.

Biden has vowed that his administration would "look like America".

"It is important that my administration, I promise you, will look like America," he previously said in an interview.

"Both from Vice President, to the Supreme Court, to cabinet positions, to every major position in the White House."

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