Paper sorry for Kerry 'exclusive'

The corrected version was described as "not exclusive"

The New York Post newspaper has apologised for wrongly identifying Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's running mate.

The paper's front page on Tuesday said Congressman Dick Gephardt had been chosen to stand for vice-president.

It corrected the mistake by reproducing the headline on Wednesday with the correct name, John Edwards.

Mr Kerry and Mr Edwards have been holding their first campaign rally together in Cleveland, Ohio.

The newspaper did not explain its mistake, described as an exclusive, which came hours before Mr Kerry made his announcement.

"We do hope you'll forgive the error - it certainly was one for the record books," the Post, a conservative newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch, said.

"Obviously we were wrong, and we'd like to humbly apologise to our readers for the mistake," adding that it amounted to "a chicken farm's worth of egg on our face."

Champagne

The gaffe became headline news for rivals the Daily News, who described it as the most "colossal flub" since the Chicago Tribune proclaimed that Democrat Harry Truman had lost the 1948 presidential election.

It sent its Post colleagues a crate of champagne with a note saying "Congratulations on your exclusive".

Copies of Tuesday's Post are believed to be attracting bids of more than $70 at internet auctions.

But the Post's readers appeared unfazed by the error.

"As far as I am concerned, apology accepted," wrote Alan Kohn of Casselberry, Florida in the newspaper's letters page.

Katherine Sweatt of Manhattan, meanwhile, chose to blame Mr Kerry for the mistake.

"I bought the Post as usual on my way to the gym in the morning," she said.

"Then I go online and see that John Kerry selected Sen. John Edwards. Can't Kerry make up his mind?"