Why Joe Biden is the early Democrat favourite for 2020

FORMER US senator and vice-president Joe Biden confirmed he is pondering a 2020 White House campaign - after having said recently that "the jury is still out" as to whether he will run.

He is the early favourite to win his party's nomination, despite already being 75 years old, in what could be the first clash of septuagenarian Democrat and Republican candidates in US history if Donald Trump seeks re-election.

Although general election day remains more than 21/2 years away, Mr Biden's comment is only the latest sign that the Democrat field is beginning to mobilise. If he decides to run, he will be a formidable candidate, but could face a significant field for his party's nomination.