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Joe Biden confirms he will run for US President in 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden launched his campaign for White House today, declaring: “We are in the battle for the soul of this nation.”

The 76-year-old, who served as Barack Obama’s number two, released a video message announcing his much-anticipated third run at the top job - boosted by a new poll suggesting he could beat Donald Trump in a straight fight for the White House.

Sharing the news on Twitter, he wrote: "The core values of this nation… our standing in the world… our very democracy...everything that has made America -- America --is at stake.

"That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States."

Joe Biden was Vice President under Barack Obama (AFP/Getty Images)
Joe Biden was Vice President under Barack Obama (AFP/Getty Images)

In the video, he hit out at current President Donald Trump and said: "We are in the battle for the soul of this nation.

"If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation.

"Who we are. And I cannot stand by and watch that happen."

Joe Biden formally announced his intention to run (AFP/Getty Images)
Joe Biden formally announced his intention to run (AFP/Getty Images)

In particular he focused on the 2017 deadly clash between white supremacists and counter protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia and noted President Trump's comments there were some "very fine people" on both sides of the violent encounter, which left one woman dead.

"With those words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it," Mr Biden said. "And in that moment, I knew the threat to this nation was unlike any I had seen in my lifetime."

Barack Obama's spokeswoman said the former President relied on Joe Biden's 'knowledge, insight, and judgment' while in the White House (Getty Images)
Barack Obama's spokeswoman said the former President relied on Joe Biden's 'knowledge, insight, and judgment' while in the White House (Getty Images)

Mr Biden, a lifelong politician who was senator for Delaware from 1973 to 2009, becomes an instant front-runner alongside Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is leading many polls and has proved to be a successful fundraiser .

He would be the oldest person ever elected president should he win.

Among Democrats, Mr Biden has unmatched international and legislative experience and is among the best-known faces in US politics.

His announcement was boosted by a Morning Consult/Politico poll showed him leading by 42 per cent to 34 per cent in a head-to-head with the current president Donald Trump.

Mr Biden has an edge over Mr Trump among women (17 points), millennials (22 points) and independents (10 points).

The national survey, conducted online, also showed Mr Biden has the support of 30 per cent of Democratic Party voters.

Joe Biden joins at least 19 other Democrats vying to take on Donald Trump in 2020 (AP)
Joe Biden joins at least 19 other Democrats vying to take on Donald Trump in 2020 (AP)

Senator Bernie Sanders was in second place on 24 per cent.

Mr Biden is well-known nationally and popular in some places Democrats have lost recently, such as working-class swing states Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, his birthplace.

A spokeswoman for former President Obama said he had relied on Mr Biden's "knowledge, insight, and judgment throughout both campaigns and the entire presidency".

However, Mr Obama has not officially endorsed him or any other candidate as yet.

Despite the positives, Mr Biden's run will face some questions and he recently faced new questions in regards to touching and kissing strangers at political events, with several women coming forward to say he had made them feel uncomfortable.

He has apologised and said he recognised standards for personal conduct had evolved in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

His 2020 bid comes four years after he opted against challenging Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic contest.

There will be at least 20 Democrats jockeying for the chance to take on President Trump next year and several lesser-known candidates may still join the race.