Joe Biden's Family Says Yes -- Will He?

[Purveyor]

By Jeff Zeleny, Senior Washington Correspondent
Updated 6:22 PM ET, Thu October 15, 2015

(CNN)Vice President Joe Biden has personally made a series of calls this week to Democratic strategists from Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, asking a final round of detailed questions about how -- not whether -- to launch a 2016 presidential campaign.

People familiar with the conversations tell CNN that Biden has been making the calls throughout the week, including on Wednesday, just as many leading Democrats argued the window to a potential candidacy was closing in the wake of Hillary Clinton's strong performance in the party's first presidential debate. He is asking these people to work for him if he runs.

The vice president has been making clear that his family is fully supportive of him jumping into the 2016 race, according to people familiar with the calls. They are guided by the belief that he has the best chance of keeping the White House in Democratic hands and he could forever regret taking a pass at another shot at the presidency.

The new round of calls this week -- from the vice president himself, not simply his top advisers -- suggest Biden is finally moving toward announcing a decision. He has been down this road before, inching close to a run but pulling back, so his next steps are far from certain.

Yet, he is still leaving the impression this week that he wants to join the race, people familiar with the calls say, and does not seem dissuaded by the argument that he could complicate the party's nominating fight or damage his own reputation.

MORE...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/15/politics/joe-biden-family-2016-election-decision/index.html

[randys1]

1. Something has changed since the debate, both Bernie and Hillary are stronger

and there is less of a need to bring Joe in.

Someone said if he is polling at 22 right now, that this is probably his ceiling, I think that makes sense.

Like Joe, remember him in the hearing of Bork...he was brilliant

[artislife]

17. Maybe it has never been about bringing Joe in.

Maybe it has always been about whether Joe wanted to run again.

[kath]

25. I remember him in the Clarence Thomas hearings...he sucked. Big time (as Cheney would say).

Thanks, Joe, for giving us the brilliant Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court.

[Cassiopeia]

2. It's time for him to say no.

A President makes a lot of very important decisions sometimes with little time or information. If its taking him this long to decide on a simple choice like running or not we don't need him.

[still_one]

3. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[restorefreedom]

9. hell yes!!!!!! nt

[nc4bo]

5. Dear CNN etc, Creator of Horse Races, just STFU.nt

[reddread]

16. Home away from home for Army psychops

i doubt they are interested in a real race.

[cwydro]

6. I like Biden, and I had hoped he would run.

But this is getting silly.

He's beginning to look foolish imo.

[Blasphemer]

7. I feel the same. The window has closed... nt

[artislife]

18. My Democratic couple who are my clients

Are begging him to join the race. They are in their 70s. They want him. They have had very interested conversations with me and my support of Bernie. One of the few clients I will discuss politics with.

[appalachiablue]

24. Agree & think his reservation expired. Joe's a good VP and Dem. which is appreciated much.

[ram2008]

8. Perhaps his internals in Iowa/nationally show a Bernie boost?

I can't see how he jumps in the race if Hillary got a big boost from that debate.However if she didn't, that could spell trouble for her candidacy, as she pretty much debated as best as she could with no errors.

The only rationale I can see is if somehow Bernie got a boost post debate that we haven't seen yet, or if he has some inside information that's going to drop on Clinton soon.

[Nye Bevan]

10. No. Thanks to Bernie, Hillary's email problem has been neutralized.

And Joe was only ever going to enter the race if things were looking bad for Hillary.

[Egnever]

22. It's still a little premature to say her email problem has been nuetralized

Unless of course you think what Bernie says happens.

There is no telling what the pukes might be holding on to waiting to drop on the general election.

Hopefully in the end it will be a non issue but I think it is a little too soon to call it.

[Hiraeth]

11. Joe needs to stay out and it is time for Chaffee and Webb to drop out and endorse someone.

I think it is time to focus on O'Malley, Clinton and Sanders. Just my opinion.

[artislife]

19. Martin is great

but he is in the cellar with the other two. I don't understand the argument for keeping him in and having the other two go, if we are going on poll numbers.

[Hiraeth]

20. I think he is still needed as a buffer zone between HRC and Bernie. It is still a little early for

that. I would like to see the next debate feature these three and then it will be obvious that O'Malley needs to step down.

As long as the repubs still have so many running we are good with three.

Just the way I want to see it, is all.

[Warren DeMontague]

12. There's a difference btw an effective, extended guitar tease to build excitement, and just noodlin'

At this point Biden's just noodlin'

[elfin]

13. Can he wait until after the Benghazi! Hearing?

Yes, it is phony, but HRC can be her own worst enemy and things could get worse perception-wise. if Biden announces he's NOT entering and then Clinton craters - not good.

[bigdarryl]

14. Biden isn'tgoing no where here's why

He's for this extending the war in Afghanistan he's for TPP he voted for that lousy credit card bill he was a big part in canceling the three woman who were to testify in favor of Anita Hill.I predict Sanders will be totally against keeping troops in Afghanistan as far as Hillary who the fuck knows.

[KoKo]

15. It's getting pretty Tiresome!

I'm thinking there's some strategy behind all this...that maybe isn't whether Biden Will or Won't but the Drama of it is covering for lack of enough Dem Challengers to the Repubs.

But then...it could be just Biden's ego kicking in with all the attention which is a distraction from the painful loss of his son. At his power level...that wouldn't be something to blame him for. Just wonder if its wise for him to do this at this point when he is in danger of being called "a spoiler."

[Purveyor]

21. I've given up on what Joe will do and won't be surprised either way. The clusterfunk it would

create if he were to run would be entertainment worthy however.

[malokvale77]

23. A couple of things here...

I would take Biden over Hillary any day. I don't like many of his policy stances, but at least he doesn't flip flop away.

I would never switch my support from Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden. Much as I would never switch my support to Hillary Clinton.

Bernie Sanders values are the closest to my own of any candidate I have seen in decades.

[mainstreetonce]

26. I don't think he is undecided

I think he has a plan.