Joe Biden has named California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate,making history by selecting the first black woman to compete on a majorparty's presidential ticket.
In choosing Ms Harris, Mr Biden is embracing aformer rival from the Democratic primary who is familiar with the pressures ofa national campaign.
The 55-year-old first-term senator is also one of theparty's most prominent figures and quickly became a top contender for thenumber two spot after her own White House campaign ended.