Did Biden nix job at State?

WASHINGTON – Joe Biden’s wife said Monday that he had his pick of being Barack Obama’s running mate or the secretary of state nomination that eventually went to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a slip that the vice president-elect immediately tried to shush.

Jill Biden’s comment came during an appearance with her husband on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” taped at Washington’s Kennedy Center.

“Joe had the choice to be secretary of state or vice president,” she said. Her husband turned to his wife with his finger to his lips and a “Shhhh!” that sent the audience into laughter. “OK, he did,” Jill Biden said in her defense. The vice president-elect blushed, grimaced and gave his wife a hug while the audience continued to erupt. “That’s right,” he finally said to his wife. “Go ahead.”

Jill Biden said she told him vice president would be better for the family.

After the exchange aired on television three hours later, Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander denied Jill Biden’s account in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

“To be clear, President-elect Obama offered Vice President-elect Biden one job only – to be his running mate,” the statement said. “And the vice president-elect was thrilled to accept the offer.”