Hillary was second choice, Mrs Biden lets slip on TV

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The embarrassing disclosure was blurted out on live television by vice president-elect Joe Biden's wife Jill.

Mrs Biden proudly described how her husband had been given a choice last summer of being either Mr Obama's running mate and eventual VP or to become the Cabinet member responsible for foreign policy, the job later given to Mrs Clinton. "Joe had the choice to be secretary of state or vice president," she enthused during an appearance with her husband on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

An aghast Mr Biden quickly shushed his wife with his finger to his lips. Flushing, he then grimaced and gave her a hug while the audience erupted in laughter. "That's right," he finally said.

Mrs Biden then told how she urged him to be vice president. "If you're secretary of state, we'll never see you," she said.

The disclosure did not amuse the Clinton camp which refused to comment.

Click here to see a gallery of images from Barack Obama's big day

Mr Biden later tried to deny the story. His spokeswoman said in a statement: "President-elect Obama offered vice president-elect Biden one job only - to be his running mate." It claimed Mrs Biden had not meant what she said. "Like anyone who followed the campaign, Dr Jill Biden knew there was a chance that president-elect Obama might ask her husband to serve in some capacity."

Mr Obama ignored the matter last night when he praised the Bidens at a dinner at Washington's Union Station.