VP Biden says he has 'plenty of time' to weigh presidency

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden says "I think I could do a good job" as president but says it's too soon to say if he'll try to succeed Barack Obama.

Biden says "being president and being leader of the Senate is two different things," noting a vice president's constitutional responsibility to occasionally preside over the Senate.

He tells NBCs "Today" show "I was fairly effective getting controversial things resolved," citing his work on the Violence Against Women Act when he was a member of the Senate representing Delaware.

Biden says that running for president is "not my focus now." He says instead that his goal is "to keep this recovery moving." Biden also says he has "plenty of time" between now and this summer to make a decision about running.



President Barack Obama pauses during his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio listen. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150121/us--dem_2016-biden-e033c5262b.html

[bigdarryl]

1. If he gets in it will be a dog fight between him and Hillary

Not good news for the democrats if it's a real fight for the nomination.

[Renew Deal]

2. If he gets in a race with Hillary he will be embarrassed and he knows it

I think he will stay out. He has more to lose than the O'Malleys and Sanders of the world.

O'Malley and Webb have something to gain. They want to be VP.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. From what I've seen/heard ...

I could support O'Malley; and, Webb can go straight to hell.

[Reter]

8. It was a dog fight in 2008 and we still won

I like battles for the nomination. I despise cake walks like Al Gore in 2000.

[closeupready]

3. No thanks. Good guy and good Democrat, but I'm not interested.

Of course, as with Hillary, I'll vote for whoever the nominee is, but I wouldn't want him to win it.

[Township75]

5. Hillary will tear him in two at the debates

If Joe even has the support to get in.

He will shoot himself in the foot many times and be laughed out.

[karynnj]

7. Hillary will beat him with media, party and popular support - but he would do fine in debates

Go back and look at the 2008 debates. Biden often had the best answers - better than the three who really had a chance. Both on domestic issues and international ones.

I don't think he will run - and if he does, he won't win. However, please STOP and think before repeating Republican spin of this serious man as a gaffe machine. ANY person followed 24/7, as all nominees/candidates tend to be - will say things that can be isolated to make then seem completely weird, out of touch or silly.

You should know that as they have twisted things that your favorite has said or done -- and it is not just the right. Sometimes, it people who are likely on our side - happy to make a cheap joke. (This is not just for Biden - look at the idiotic Jon Steward jumping on the attacks of Kerry in Paris - where US coverage would make it hard to know that the French media was filled with praise for both his early comments (in French) and his speech (yeah he gave one) the day he was in France. )

There were reasons that I was not for Biden in 2008 - mostly that he was a conservative Democrat (the bankruptcy bills etc) and there were things like his behavior in the Clarence Thomas hearing when he was chair of the Judiciary committee. I also strongly disliked the way he ran the SFRC committee - to the degree that I far preferred the leadership of Republican Dick Lugar! The reason - the show of ego where he felt he needed to speak after each member grilled someone - restating what was said and his cutting Senators as soon as they exceeded their time - even in the middle of a point.

However, he gets far less credit than he deserves for things he quietly does for the administration. Obama has given him the lead on many domestic issues.

[Babel_17]

6. That was an amusing way to say he's not serious about running :) (nt)