THE camps of Barack Obama and John McCain sparred yesterday over the Democrats’ choice of a longtime Washington insider as his running mate.

AMERICAN presidential hopeful Barack Obama texted supporters shortly after 3am on Saturday to announce Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential candidate — in time for the Democratic party’s national convention which begins in Denver today.

Barack Obama introduced Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his Democratic running mate today before a cheering crowd of thousands, hailing him as a “leader who is ready to step in and be president”.

Former US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has today congratulated Senator Joe Biden on his nomination to be Barack Obama's running mate.

Barack Obama has picked Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his US vice presidential running mate, a Democratic party official said today.

THE media took a novel approach to the latest Democratic presidential debate by hosting the event with the video-sharing website YouTube.

Young, internet-savvy voters challenged Democratic presidential hopefuls on Iraq and their own place in a broken political system, playing starring roles in a provocative, video-driven debate.

US Senator Joe Biden faced immediate controversy as he officially entered the presidential race today, after describing Democratic rival Barack Obama as the “first mainstream African-American” who was articulate, bright, clean and good-looking.

Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed confidence in her presidential prospects yesterday and said she awaits a spirited contest for the 2008 Democratic nomination.

US President George Bush is reportedly “open to ideas” as he meets a panel studying the war on Iraq today.

US presidential candidate John Kerry was today expected to announce his choice of running mate to take on George Bush and the Republicans for control of The White House.

The Iraq prisoner abuse scandal shifted to the question of whether the Bush administration set up a legal foundation that opened the door for the mistreatment.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is questioning whether America has failed to take “truly bold moves” in Iraq and Afghanistan and asking the Pentagon to rethink its strategy.