Joe Biden selects California Senator Kamala Harris as running mate

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.