Day: August 23, 2015

David Atkins doesn't think Vice President Biden has anything to lose by running:

But from another perspective, it's not as if Biden has much to lose by running, either. Having served two terms as Vice President after a career in the Senate, taking up a cabinet position like John Kerry has done might be in the cards for him, but Biden seems too simultaneously ambitious and affable for that. He has also seen his share of family grief and tragedy--more than most have in a lifetime. Retirement probably doesn't seem like an attractive option. Most importantly, there are reports that his son Beau Biden reportedly wanted his father to run for President again, and attempting to fulfill his son's wish would have to be an impulse too strong to deny absent a very good reason. And that good reason doesn't seem to exist. A Biden run wouldn't necessarily hurt the Democratic Party's fortunes. If the Clinton campaign is strong enough to withstand the challenge then Biden will have given it his all without regrets; if it isn't strong enough, then that will be all the proof the Biden camp will have needed that Clinton wasn't the best general election candidate. The biggest reason for Biden not to run is that the Clinton team might hold it against him afterward should she win office. But then again, so what? Would Joe Biden rather run his own foundation, or serve as a potential Clinton cabinet member in exchange for quashing his dreams? I can't imagine avoiding punishment from camp Clinton is worth the price of a lifetime of regrets.