For months now, Vice-President Joe Biden has been treated as though he was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination (even though he had not said he would run). He's been included in nearly all the polls, the media has treated him like a candidate, and a super-PAC was created to support him if he ran (and to encourage him to run).
Yesterday, Biden put an end to all of that. Appearing at a news conference with his wife and President Obama, Biden made it clear that he is not a candidate for the presidency in 2016. He said:
"As my family and I have worked through the grieving process, I've said all along...It may very well be that that process, by the time we get through it, closes the window on mounting a realistic campaign for president, that it might close. I've concluded that it has closed."
"I believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination."
I think Biden probably would like to run, and has waited this long to announce he is not running because he thought Hillary Clinton might fade in her campaign -- especially with Republicans continuing to beat the drum on the fake "scandals of Benghazi and the Clinton e-mails. But after Clinton's strong debate performance, and her failure to fade in the polls, he realized that he would have little to no hope of winning the Democratic nomination in 2016 -- so he bowed out gracefully, like the gentleman that he has always been.
I like Joe Biden. I believe he has served his party and his country very well in his long and successful political career -- but I also believe he has made the right decision. If he had entered the race, he could have delayed the inevitable, but Clinton would still have eventually won the nomination.
This is a blow for the candidacy of Bernie Sanders. Considering Biden a candidate had kept Hillary Clinton from majority support in the polls (keeping her in the mid-forties). Without Biden in the race, Hillary's support goes above 50%. That is what all the polls have said. Biden not running will shorten the amount of time it takes Clinton to get a majority of delegates.
Another candidate is also dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination
Here is the statement released by Hillary Clinton concerning Biden's decision not to run:
“Joe Biden is a good man and a great Vice President. Serving alongside him in the Senate and then the administration, I saw first-hand his passion for our country and our people. Like millions of others, I admire his devotion to family, his grace in grief, his grit and determination on behalf of the middle class, and his unyielding faith in America’s promise. As Vice President, Joe has been by President Obama’s side for every pivotal decision. He helped save the auto industry and pull our economy back from the brink of depression. He continues to fight for higher wages, safer communities, and a more peaceful world. It’s a record to be proud of, defend, and build on. And I am confident that history isn’t finished with Joe Biden. As he said today, there is more work to do. And if I know Joe, he will always be on the front-lines, always fighting for all of us.”
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Another candidate is also dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination. Jim Webb has suspended his campaign (and some say he is considering a run as an Independent). Webb is unhappy that he did not receive time equal to Clinton and Sanders in the Democratic debate. That might matter if he had been able to get more than 1% or 2% in all the national polls -- but he couldn't. He was never a viable candidate, and did not improve his chances with the time he did get in the debate. He just showed he is out-of-step with the huge majority of Democrats.
I hope he doesn't run as an Independent. I don't think he could hurt any other candidate. He's certainly no Ross Perot or Ralph Nader, and I doubt he could draw enough support to matter. He would just embarrass himself.