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Democratic Insiders share Biden's doubts
 Date: November 8, 2016 |
Winner: Donald Trump (R) Hillary Clinton (D) • Jill Stein (G) • Gary Johnson (L) • Vice presidential candidates |
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This article covering the 2016 presidential election was written outside the scope of Ballotpedia's encyclopedic coverage and does not fall under our neutrality policy or style guidelines. It is preserved as it was originally written. For our encyclopedic coverage of the 2016 election, click here.
This page was current as of the 2016 election.
September 11, 2015
Several Democratic Insiders surveyed by Ballotpedia this week reflected the sentiments that Vice President Joe Biden shared on Thursday with late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert, expressing doubts that he had the emotional strength to pursue the presidency, and serve, resolutely in the wake of his son Beau's death from brain cancer last May.
“I cannot imagine anyone could have the energy to run for President after losing a wonderful son,” said one Democrat, expressing the heartfelt sentiment of many. “The man has suffered enough,” maintained another. “He doesn't need to lose another nomination race to end his career.”
Some Democrats admitted they were conflicted on the question of a Biden candidacy. “This is more a yes and no for me, but I'll lean no,” said an influential Democrat, explaining: “I say yes because he’s the sitting Veep and deserves his shot at the presidency. That said, he’s run before more than once and hasn't been successful. This time around, though, he doesn’t have the fire and desire: he's still in mourning. The pressure being put on him to ‘save the party’ from HRC is a bit unfair.”
And as one skeptic of a Biden candidacy cogently warned: “Don't mistake the outpouring of personal affection—and nervousness about HRC—for a compelling case for your candidacy.”
Many Democrats share a strong sense of respect and genuine affection for the vice president and worry that a third presidential run by Biden is likely to come up short, which could be an embarrassing blot on his image as a senior statesman who is well-regarded in his party. “I just think he has had his swan song as VP and he has a wonderful legacy as a hands-on-VP,” observed one Democratic Insider. “I think that legacy will be tarnished by tilting-at-windmills run that will end in defeat.” Echoed another, “I love Joe, but he should not run; he wouldn’t win and could tarnish his legacy.”
A Ballotpedia survey of nearly 100 Democratic insiders finds that the party activists tilt against another presidential run by Vice President Joe Biden. Asked whether they would “like to see Joe Biden run for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination,” 98 party strategists, pollsters, media consultants, activists, lobbyists and allied interest group operatives were closely divided on the question: 44 percent said they’d like to see a Biden bid and 56 percent said they would not.
Here is a link to the original story on the survey.
James A. Barnes is a senior writer for Ballotpedia and co-author of the forthcoming 2016 edition of the Almanac of American Politics. He has conducted elite opinion surveys for National Journal, CNN and the on-line polling firm, YouGov. This Insiders survey was conducted September 4-9.
See also
- Joe Biden possible presidential campaign, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
- Presidential election, 2016/Polls
- 2016 presidential candidate ratings and scorecards
- Presidential election, 2016/Straw polls
