Joe Biden was not arrested in South Africa while trying to see Nelson Mandela, his campaign has conceded.
The US presidential contender had repeatedly said he was arrested during a trip there in the 1970s, when South Africa was under apartheid.
But a deputy campaign managers told reporters Mr Biden had been referring to an episode where he was "separated" from black colleagues at an airport.
Mr Biden is counting on black support to win South Carolina on Saturday.
