Is Biden Ready to Run?

Biden could never speak in a campaign quite the way that he spoke on Colbert. Biden talked about whether he’s emotionally ready to commit to a campaign after losing his son Beau in May.

The vice president is still determining whether his family has the emotional capacity to run for president as they continue to grieve the loss of Beau. “He is obviously conflicted, and that is a bad place to be for anyone considering running for president”.

“Yes”, Biden said, suspense building.

“He was a human being”, said Steve McMahon, a Democratic strategist and founding partner of political consulting firm Purple Strategies. More than anything, he’s authentic.

That’s the stage we’re all watching with Biden and his family, and he’s inviting us in to watch because that’s the messy way of Joe Biden. It is as common as breathing for every political interviewer to ask every person that they interview about Hillary Clinton’s emails. And they have contributed to Biden’s skyrocketing personal approval rating in polls.

It may not have been intended this way, but it provided a compelling reason to rule out a campaign against Hillary Clinton that many Democrats (and Barack Obama) remain deeply divided over. “How could you… I shouldn’t be saying this – and you can’t do that”.

That struck a familiar note for people in Washington. He said he still was preoccupied with grieving over the loss of his 46-year-old son Beau, who died in May following a battle with brain cancer. Even in a crowd, you’re just alone.

“The September 11 attacks on our nation and city was a day that changed the course of history and changed us all as Americans”, said Steve Cassidy, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York President. “And all of a sudden I lost it”.

Sure. But that’s easy to say when you don’t need to elaborate on what you believe. Biden learned that the leadership had been assumed by Morris’ son, who is also named Robert.

The host said, “Not that there aren’t good people on both sides running”. You saw her dancing on “Ellen” we heard talking about her mother more. But because of the man’s rare candor and authenticity, the interview may have offered the best argument for him to run for president after all, despite his clearly stated reservations.

“This is not, like, ancient history”, she said.

The population of the United States is 321,650,000, if I can trust the accuracy of my iPhone’s Siri.

The vice president will have to make a final decision very soon. The clock his ticking – and there are only weeks left before filing deadlines pass to get on the ballot in the early states. Colbert, the longtime Comedy Central star who this week took over David Letterman’s former role, lost his father and two brothers in a plane crash as a child.

“It’s jarring to see him that raw”, said Erik Smith, a Democratic strategist who worked on President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 election teams. Where Clinton is cautious and closed off, Biden is spontaneous and an open book.

“The vice president recounted how a few months before Beau passed away, his son told him, “‘I know how much you love me. Promise me you’re going to be alright.

“First of all, it’s a little embarrassing, this being about me”, he said. Promise me, ‘ ” Biden said. “My religion is an enormous sense of solace….”