Vocal Biden Backer Joins Super PAC Urging VP To Run In 2016

[Purveyor]

By Josh Lederman?|?AP August 3 at 8:24 PM

WASHINGTON — One of Vice President Joe Biden’s most vocal supporters joined the super PAC urging him to run for president Monday, as interest in Biden’s political future spiked amid fresh signs that his aides are looking closely at a 2016 campaign.

Dick Harpootlian, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said he was writing a $10,000 check to the group Draft Biden, and was prepared to donate another $10,000 of his personal funds if asked. He said he was formally endorsing Draft Biden and would immediately begin raising money on its behalf.

A prominent figure in South Carolina politics, Harpootlian has been publicly encouraging Biden to run for president for years, but had kept his distance from Draft Biden out of concern that it lacked the support of Biden and his political team. The super PAC isn’t affiliated with Biden and his aides have said they don’t speak to the group’s leaders.

But Harpootlian, in an interview with The Associated Press, said his calculus changed on Sunday when Josh Alcorn, the top political aide to Biden’s late son and former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, announced he had joined Draft Biden. A known commodity in the Biden world, Alcorn raised money for Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign, and also served in the top fundraising role for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid’s vast political operation.

“The fact he’s now in the project sends a message to me and others that this process is moving forward,” said Harpootlian, whose state has an early primary in the presidential campain. “Does that mean Joe Biden is going to run? No. But it means at least some folks around him believe they need to get ready in case he does.”

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/vocal-biden-backer-joins-super-pac-urging-vp-to-run-in-2016/2015/08/03/0591f1a8-3a3f-11e5-8993-0b783c1d6d37_story.html

[Metric System]

1. Is a Biden run something the public is clamoring for, other than among his associates?

[ericson00]

2. I'd say its more the part of the party

who simply also joined the GOP in their jealousy of the Clintons. You know, the people who allowed Clinton to be sent to the Whitewater sharks, didn't do their 100% on health care back in 93-94, etc.

[MBplayer]

3. Why all the threats/anger re: possible Biden run?

If HRC is such a strong candidate, you should be welcoming Obama's VP into the race, no?

[ericson00]

6. is it me or the Clinton-haters tend to have few posts

and no avatars? A lil fishy.

[Aerows]

7. It's just you. n/t

[MBplayer]

4. Awesome!

The support for Joe to jump into the race has really grown on social media these past few days. Honestly, a lot more than I expected.

[jberryhill]

5. Well, he avoided the first "draft Biden" movement

I can't see why this one would have better luck.