Biden closes in on decision, but doubts multiply

A decision appears to be imminent from Vice President Biden on whether to enter the 2016 White House race. 

CNN reported late Thursday afternoon that Biden’s family was on board with the idea of a presidential bid, while NBC News, citing unnamed sources, said Biden was in “the final stages” of coming to an answer on a question that has been roiling the political world.

{mosads}Skeptics, however, contend that a Biden run is less likely than it was even a few days ago as a result of Hillary Clinton’s strong performance in the first televised debate on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. 

Suggestions that Biden would run had previously been fueled by the idea that the furor over Clinton’s use of a personal email account and server while secretary of State, coupled with her limitations as a candidate, might create an opening for Biden. 

Now that she has calmed the collective nerves of the Democratic Party, the case for Biden looks muddier. 

One Democratic donor told The Hill that some people are conveying to Biden and his close associates that he’s waited too long to enter the race.  

“I wouldn’t have said this a couple of weeks ago, but I think the door is closed, particularly after Hillary’s debate performance,” the donor said.

“You’re hearing calls for him to make a decision and when that happens, I think it’s a little too late. 

Tellingly, perhaps, one of those calls came from a very senior Clinton aide, campaign manager John Podesta.  

“The time has come for a decision,” Podesta told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday. 

In the broader Democratic community, there are also increasing concerns about whether a Biden candidacy would have a deeper rationale beyond being an alternative to Hillary, who has more in common with Biden’s center-left positioning than the unabashed liberalism of her main rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). 

Democratic consultant Hilary Rosen told The Hill that if Biden did enter the race, Democrats wanted it to be “because he has a positive vision and not just because he intends to see Hillary Clinton stumble.” 

Asked if there was still time for Biden to run, Rosen aded, “Sure, but the window is closing. I think there are two issues there: One is the logistical issues, so the longer he waits, the fewer ballots he can qualify for. The other one is articulating a compelling vision for his candidacy.”

A strategist who did not want to be named, but who is in touch with Biden’s circle, was even more emphatic.  

“I don’t see a path for him,” the strategist said. “And that’s a problem.” 

Still, the flurry of news reports on Thursday suggested the vice president could be on the brink of entering the race. CNN reported that Biden himself had called strategists in the three states that are first to vote, asking “about how — not whether — to launch a presidential campaign.” 

The news organization also reported that Biden had indicated on those calls that his family was supportive of a run. That is a particularly crucial point given that the vice president and the broader Biden clan have been grappling with the trauma of his son Beau’s death from brain cancer in May.

Still, the fact remains that no one, beyond Biden himself, knows what he will do. 

Kristen Welker of NBC News shouted questions to Biden on Thursday as he appeared at his official residence to greet the president of South Korea.

Asked by Welker if he was running for president, Biden joked, “I’ll answer in Korean.” 

Welker followed up by shouting: “Have you made your decision yet?” 

“I can’t hear you,” a smiling Biden responded. 

— Amie Parnes and Jordan Fabian contributed.