Biden on 2016: Hillary Clintons Plans Wont Affect Mine
Hillary Clinton may be leading in early 2016 matchups, but Vice President Joe Biden wont let that stop him from running for president.
Speaking onABCs The ViewTuesday, Mr. Biden said of Mrs. Clinton: Whether she runs or not will not affect my decision.
He said there is a 50-50 chance that he will enter the race. Its as likely I run as I dont run, he said, adding that his wife would be supportive of a campaign.
My knowledge of foreign policy, my engagement with world leaders, my experience uniquely positions me to follow through on the agenda [President Barack Obama] and I have of bringing up world peace in a way that is real and substantive, he continued.
But he sought to turn attention back to the upcoming midterms, as Democrats seek to win the House and maintain majority control in the Senate. If we dont do that, our agenda is not going to be worth very much in the last two years, Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Biden also appeared Tuesday night on Seth Meyerss inaugural episode as host of NBCs Late Night, where he joked about his 2016 plans. Well, you know, I was planning on making a major announcement tonight, but I decided tonights your night, he told Mr. Meyers. So I hope youll invite me back.
Mr. Meyerss other guest, Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler, declared her plans more definitively. Im gonna run for president, she said.
The vice presidents remarks come amidst Democrats concerns that the threat of a Clinton runpaired with the formidable campaign apparatus that has already sprung up to support hercould thin the ranksof possible 2016 contenders. According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll last month, Mrs. Clinton is leading Mr. Biden by an overwhelming 61 points, with 73% of Democrats saying they would support her. Some Democrats worry that potential candidates who might otherwise have a shot, like Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, will be discouraged from entering the race, even though Mrs. Clinton has not yet announced whether she will run.
Last August,the Journal reported that allies of Mr. Biden had concluded that he can win the 2016 nominationeven if Mrs. Clinton also ran.
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