AP Obtains Email in Which a Top Biden Aide Lays Out Potential Platform for 2016 Presidential Run

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

@AP: AP obtains email in which a top Biden aide lays out potential platform for 2016 presidential run: http://t.co/oicHOJkvTB/s/GWTZ

APNewsBreak: Top Biden aide lays out potential 2016 platform

By Josh Lederman

OCT. 15, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is nearing a decision about whether to run for president and would focus his campaign on middle-class issues, a top Biden aide said Thursday in a letter to Biden's former staff.

Former Delaware Sen. Ted Kaufman, who served as Biden's chief of staff in the Senate and is advising him on a potential 2016 campaign, told former aides that Biden will need all of their help if he decides to enter the race. In an email obtained by The Associated Press, Kaufman said he wasn't sure whether Biden will run, but that if he does, he'll run an optimistic and unscripted "campaign from the heart."

"If he runs, he will run because of his burning conviction that we need to fundamentally change the balance in our economy and the political structure to restore the ability of the middle class to get ahead," Kaufman said.



Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4f8f038f01c3484a870ffc33b501c5ac/apnewsbreak-top-biden-aide-lays-out-potential-2016-platform

[DonCoquixote]

1. dont do it joe

Then the Clintons will attack obama and ensure a Civil War.

[AtomicKitten]

31. Podesta demanding Joe make up his mind is really inappropriate.

I recall a time when the field deferred to the sitting VP to declare his intentions first. It is Joe's privilege as sitting VP to run without this badgering from the Clinton camp.

I think you are right, that it would devolve into a war between Joe and Hillary, the obvious stance for Hillary would be to run against the Obama Admin and that would get really ugly.

This doesn't change my support for Bernie in any way, just an interested bystander cringing at the Clinton camp's bullying efforts to keep Joe out.

[catnhatnh]

2. Looks like another candidate...

...will be ordering a fringe of white unkempt hair...

[WheelWalker]

3. Fired up... ready to Go !

[PatSeg]

5. I think it is happening

[LiberalElite]

4. Really .

[SoapBox]

6. Same old, same old.

No thank you.

America needs REAL change.

[DJ13]

7. "Sir, the voters arent buying the 'Hillary won the debate' propoganda, what do we do?"

"The big money DNC supporters hate hate hate Sanders!"

"Is Biden still available?"

[CoffeeCat]

10. I think there was a "Let's wait until after the first debate"...

...scenario--before Joe moved forward.

He's been in a holding pattern for a few weeks now.

My guess is that the campaigns did their own internal polling, post-debate, and discovered some less-than-impressive numbers for Hillary.

Biden is the DLC's "Plan B" for sure. He's an amazing person and I agree with him on so many issues. How can you not like the guy? I just feel that if our next President isn't someone who can affect substantive, meaningful change (someone who is not tied to corporate money or entrenched in DC politics)--then this country is down the toilet.

Love you Joe! You'd make a great VP (again!) or even Secretary of State!

[JDPriestly]

18. I don't think Joe Biden has the fire it takes to win.

And he does not have Bernie's natural leadership abilities.

Biden is a nice guy, but he is not a commander in chief even though he served in the military. He is not the top guy. He is the nice guy who follows. That's just who he is, and there is nothing wrong with it. I'm the same way -- not the leader.

Bernie is a natural born leader and also a leader who brings people together.

Joe Biden does not have the leadership and uniting personality that Bernie has.

[CoffeeCat]

8. Intentional leak?

I love Joe Biden and I think he would make a great President. However, I am firmly in Bernie's camp. I feel like it's Bernie's time.

Joe is wonderful (what's not to love?), and I do appreciate the slow roll out of his campaign--which is no doubt tied to what is going on with Hillary Clinton's lukewarm campaign and her sinking poll numbers--in states like Iowa and NH--where her campaign is running at full power.

If Hillary was far ahead of Bernie in the states that have impending votes, Biden wouldn't even be considering a run.

Behind all of the headlines, the hoopla and the campaign PR, if you really want to know what is going on behind the scenes at the Clinton camp--watch what Joe Biden does.

[840high]

13. I like Joe and watching.

[Esoda]

9. Bankruptcy bill

No good.

[msrizzo]

11. Gee, correct me if I'm wrong....

...but isn't that basically the rationale that EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE (including Republicans) is giving? Love you Joe, but that ain't new.

[JudyM]

12. Agreed, it'll be a matter of whose branding/implementation ideas win over the most people. Nt

[840high]

14. Yes it is but I would

believe Joe over Hillary any day.

[PatSeg]

15. I agree

[still_one]

17. Anita Hill sure doesn't agree with your assessment

[WheelWalker]

24. Your enduring bitterness is tiresome

[LanternWaste]

29. Relevance can indeed, be tiresome to many people.

Relevance can indeed, be tiresome to many people.

[WheelWalker]

30. "Resentment can indeed, be tiresome to many people." There, FYP

[still_one]

16. I have no doubt these Biden aides are looking for a job which is why they are pushing this

[Rod Beauvex]

19. Define the middle class.

Is this the 5 digit middle class, or this new millionaire middle class I've been hearing about?

[Android3.14]

20. Guess all that money went to Sanders after the debate rather than Clinton

B-b-b-but, Hillary's "win" meant Biden was backing off.
Since this isn't happening, it means the "backing off" story was propaganda, the Clinton won the debate story was propaganda, or Clinton and Biden are both disastrously out of step in this propaganda game.

[Demeter]

21. There's something sick about this political calculation going on

and that's from the fact that if Joe Biden runs, it's to protect the 1%.

Joe Biden would never be running for the sake of the 99% or the nation as an independent political entity. He'd be running because the monied interests made him an offer he can't refuse.

That's no way to win an election, or to serve the People.

[Vinca]

22. Get in or stay out, but do something.

The irony of the media obsession with this story is that if he gets in they will immediately veer the story into everything awful about Biden and why he shouldn't have gotten in.

[magical thyme]

23. He's the 1%ers "Plan B." they will continue with this game until Hillary is "in the clear" so to

speak, or until something seriously sinks her.

They are clearly very worried about Hillary, and I strongly suspect it's more than just a threat from "Bernie" that has them so worried. They can do whatever they have to to 'neutralize' Bernie. But they still need a backup for Hillary.

But he won't announce at this point because 1. it would help Bernie, and 2. he can't win as the candidate that stopped Hillary from being the first woman prez.

So they continue with this game of will he/won't he.

What will end the game is not his big decision; it's out of his hands.

[Todays_Illusion]

25. The fact that our very conservative media/news keeps pushing Joe Biden is reason enough

scream, Just say no Joe, They manipulators have all their political attacks created and loaded and ready to blast they consider Joe to be a juicy target, he can be attacked for both Clinton policies and the created by conservative lies about President Obama policies.

[yallerdawg]

26. Biden will not run.

On his way out, he will say he seriously considered it, had a team ready to support him, had a path to victory - but his heart just isn't in it.

He has a lot of great work and opportunity ahead of him for the next year, including working for Democratic victories at every level - then it's time to smell the roses and enjoy his life!

[sus453]

27. All this talk about the "middle class", but

What happened to talk of the poor?

[fbc]

28. We already have Webb, don't need another candidate to the right of Clinton thank you.

Can't he just take a job on the board of a bank or pharmaceutical company?