Comment Rescue of a response from Geezer to yesterday’s polling thread:
If you heard Beau interviewed by Allan Loudell yesterday, I wouldn’t start celebrating too soon. He sounded as peevish as the old man used to, back when he deigned to speak to Delaware media.
WDEL did put up a podcast of Allan Loudell’s complete interview with Biden from yesterday. Biden did say he was suffering from losing his voice, but he is not sounding happy to be in this conversation — you can hear the whole thing here at WDEL’s website.
So he is “considering” a race where he is currently dead even and he’s peevish about this?
I guess it’s kinda like when my dad made be be on the swim team…
Maybe he’s annoyed he’s being asked this question so much. Castle looked annoyed when I asked him if he was running for Senate, too.
Consider this scenario, and it’s an imagined one, but consider it.
– He just returned from being in Iraq for one year
– He just returned after not seeing his family for one year
– He just returned after not being able to see to his job for one year
– He just returned and likely is still trying to gather his wits about everything that is still going on
– His father became a US Senator at a very early age to him (Beau) and likely spent much of that time not seeing his father
– He has very young children right now
– Men of his and my generation who intend to to be involved parents are showing much stronger emotional bonds and relative intents with those children
I would not put it by him one bit, even in the face of a golden opportunity (going against Castle would be extremely difficult, but the opportunity with his father and so close to that time frame of him becoming VP), considering all those points I made or similar ones, to be feeling that there is no way he wants to spend the required time for a big campaign away from his family or work. Seriously, the words I hear are that he is a devoted family man and a run for US Senate, let alone being a US Senator, would just about crush his ability to maintain being a devoted family man.
I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t want to do it, but I seriously think he doesn’t want to do it right now and for the possible reasons I listed. As for the part of being annoyed, I would bet he’s getting tremendous pressure to do it, but against his own desire.
That’s my take on this.
I think Smitty’s analysis is spot on accurate.
If he is so annoyed about being asked about it then why is he giving interviews to GMA, WDEL, etc.
OK, WDEL I can understand because he is the DE AG, but he could tell them to call back in a month.
Anon is right — no one has put a gun to his head to make him do these interviews. Especially the nationwide ones. If you are taking the opportunity to keep your name in the mix then I fail to see how you can be so annoyed at it.
Say it with me: Anyone But Castle! O.K., no Mike Prozac either.
Im sure there is no small amount of pressure from dad to keep the seat in the family… maybe there wasn’t a gun to his head, but when the VP who is also your father really wants you to do something, it can be just as persuasive. Beau will get his head in the game and we can finally say goodbye to Golem
Pretty much to what a.price said, don’t discount the surrounding pressure from Dad and other politico shakers and movers, whether it’s realized or fabricated. I don’t think he’s doing anything coy, I think he’s begrudgingly doing an obligation.
Keeping his name in discussion? Sure, why not? In that regard, it’s free freaking publicity and good one at that. It’s a politicians perfect dream.
Keeping his name in discussion? Sure, why not?
Because if he’s NOT running he needs to get out of the way so donors can start directing their money to the real candidate.
ABC, wikwox!
Because if he’s NOT running he needs to get out of the way so donors can start directing their money to the real candidate.
-1) There is no real candidate right now (Carney will not do it, so stop any of you that keeps dreaming)
-2) I fully believe that he is asked to do these interviews (and pressured) and he obliges them
-3) Of course he will consider running, but he sure to hell doesn’t want to make a decision right now
-4) If the movers and shakers want a decision right now, then THEY are the ones who need to move on, not him.
Regardless of his last name, etc.–He has served our country, and I would have nothing but respect for him if he decides to sit out this turn, focus on building his credentials as AG, and most importantly, being a good husband and father. After all, its their opinion of him that should matter most.
I just saw this nugget from a “pool report” from Jake Wagman of The St. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, who covered Vice-President Biden yesterday (Thursday) at a fundraiser for Democratic Senate hopeful Robin Carnahan:
“Biden also provided further hint that his son, Beau, Delaware’s attorney-general, will run for the vice-president’s old Senate seat.
Biden said ‘I find it a hell of a lot harder to watch my kid run’ (than himself).”
Okay, one could SUPPOSE the Veep was talking about Beau’s run for Delaware Attorney-General, past or future tense. But what would be the most reasonable & plausible interpretation?
Allan Loudell
WDEL Radio & http://www.wdel.com
It could be either or, Allan. Beau is running for office in 2010. Either for reelection to AG, or for election to the Senate. So his present tense use there could refer to either one of those offices.
Also, I would not read that much into it since I have heard Biden say that before “it is hard to see my son run.”
Thanks for that Allan!
Starting with Menendez saying the DSCC was getting ready for a Biden run through this, it does seem like plenty of hints are being dropped. Someone (John Manifold?) remarked that the Bidens are waiting to do just the right rollout. It seems that they’ll have to do something soon — they’ll have to start fundraising shortly.
DD, the AG’s race isn’t until 2012.
Thanks RICO, that’s what I thought too.
2012, WHAT? It was in 2006 that he won the race. C’mon…look it up!!! It’s a four-year term.
Rico and UI, you are wrong. Biden was elected AG in 2006. It is a four year term. 6 + 4 = 10. So 2010 is his reelect year for AG.
Smitty, DD,
I stand corrected. I was sure he was elected in 08… wrong. I went and looked it up and sure enough it was 06.
I was wrong. So not only do we not know who’s running for Senate, we don’t know who’s running for AG.
My take on this is that Beau is happy with his current job and his family life, and would be in no hurry to jump into the Senate, if left to his own devices. He certainly does not seem particularly gung-ho about it. The catch, though, is I have a feeling there’s a lot of pressure coming down on him from father and Party to not let the seat slip away. There’s no doubt he is the Dem’s best chance to hold on to the spot. The question then becomes which is stronger, his reluctance to jump into national politics right now or his inclination to “take one for the team”. My guess is the later.
I suspect for AG it will be Danberg v. Wharton. If Biden runs for Senate…..
Do you think Wharton will hire a driver?
Celia Cohen has it all sewn up. Where’s Jason when DL needs ‘m?
Here’s the story the Allan Loudell discussed:
Interesting stuff. I think that the Beaudhisattva is truly ambivalent about running for the seat. He is experiencing tremendous pressure to do this. I’m not all that sure that he was that psyched about running for AG.
Maybe it’s his father’s dream that Beau follow in the family business, but not Beau’s. Smitty’s take on the contradictory forces that Beau faces strikes me as spot-on.
While most signs point to Biden making the race, I would not be shocked if Beau forsakes politics altogether, including not running for reelection for AG in 2010.