Joe Biden Gets Serious About Campaign as HiIlary Clinton Struggles

[Shrek]

WASHINGTON — As Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign struggles with sliding poll numbers, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s exploration of a presidential candidacy is taking on a new seriousness.

Mr. Biden has been in contact with donors who could help finance a campaign, eyeing major contributors to President Obama and pillars of his own fund-raising network: trial lawyers, Jewish leaders and Greek-Americans. On Thursday, the vice president, who is not known for aggressively courting donors, spoke to George Tsunis, a Long Island developer and longtime supporter, who raised more than $750,000 for the Obama-Biden ticket in 2012.

“I think he is doing the prudent thing, which is to look at it and lay down some groundwork should he run,” said Mr. Tsunis, saying that Mr. Biden is aware that Mr. Tsunis will help him if he enters the race.

At the same time, some Democrats supporting Mrs. Clinton have quietly signaled that they would re-evaluate their support if Mr. Biden joined the race. For example, Tom Daschle, an influential former Senate Democratic leader who has given the maximum amount allowable to Mrs. Clinton’s campaign, has indicated that he would reassess his position if Mr. Biden entered the race, according to people who have been in contact with him in recent days.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/us/politics/joe-biden-campaign.html?_r=0

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Biden is going to split the Hillary vote

she won't like that

[leftofcool]

10. No, Hillary would welcome him to the race.

She has already said as much. But don't let facts get in your way of a good Hillary slam.

[Garrett78]

11. It's Logic 101

I don't think it's a "slam" to say a mainstream Democrat would rather another mainstream Democrat not enter the race. Of course Clinton's going to say she would welcome Biden into the race. Imagine if she said, "I sure hope he doesn't enter the race."

The party establishment is probably questioning Clinton's electability, even with a favorable electoral map, so it would likely welcome another big name Democrat - a known commodity - as a backup plan. But you'd be a fool to think Clinton would be just as welcoming. Likewise, O'Malley, Chafee and Webb probably wouldn't be thrilled by it either, as they're already having a tough time gaining traction. Of course, those latter 3 have less to lose at this point.

So, that's not Clinton bashing. It's just sound reasoning. The only one who might welcome Biden into the race is Sanders, the non-mainstream candidate. But an argument can be made that Sanders would also be hurt by Biden entering the race, as some of his supporters might jump ship to the new Clinton-alternative.

[leftofcool]

12. I don't think so

Hillary and Joe have been friends for over 40 years. I think she would most definitely welcome him. Hillary has nothing to worry about.

[Garrett78]

13. Their being friends is irrelevant.

I really don't understand why this is hard to grasp. Biden is a big name, mainstream Democrat. Perhaps you can argue that his entering the race wouldn't hurt Clinton significantly, but it's crazy to think he won't take votes from her. That just defies logic.

Polls indicate that a majority of those who say they would vote for Biden would make Clinton their 2nd choice, meaning she has more to lose than anyone else if Biden enters the race. Again, this is pretty basic logic.

[leftofcool]

14. I don't understand why you are so worried about Biden.

I hope he gets in. He would become my second choice.

[Garrett78]

15. Huh?

When did I say I was worried about Biden? I must have missed that. I was responding to the absurd suggestion that the Clinton Camp would genuinely welcome Biden into the race, as that defies logic.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. Why would it be Clinton bashing

Joe and Hillary are both on the same track so the vote would be split.

[onehandle]

2. Being dozens of points ahead is a 'struggle?'

Biden is not running. The rumor itself is only about attacking Hillary. Period.

[Metric System]

3. It's baffling. Trump is at 25% in the polls and the media acts like he's in a stronger position.

[SonderWoman]

5. "Journalism"

New CNN poll has her beating EVERY republican by 6-15 points, but she's "struggling".

Twisted media narrative.

[Ken Burch]

6. They have Bernie beating most of them as well.

It's time to admit that the "only HRC can win in the fall" meme has been discredited.

[SonderWoman]

7. We're talking media narratives.

And beating republicans in the fall win take a lot of money.

[Ken Burch]

8. Organized passion and commitment can beat money.

If we assume money is the only thing that matters, that's the same thing as giving up on getting any progressive change in this country.

[SonderWoman]

9. Ok. We were talking about media narratives.

Hillary is "struggling", even though she's up 6-15 points on all repub candidates.

[ericson00]

19. especially from the two who wrote the article

the following articles show Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman's lack of credibility and objectivity:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/10/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party-debate.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/us/politics/donald-trump-disinvited-from-conservative-event-over-remark-on-megyn-kelly.html?gwh=E7F891331A1C4821EE96373B0F1503D9

[99th_Monkey]

4. OMG! ANYbody but Bernie Sanders!

is the DNC/Establishment sub-text.

Why can't the Democratic Party get out of the way of democracy?

Like Bernie says, enough is enough .. enough of the same ol', same ol'

[davidpdx]

16. I personally don't see why some view the talk of Biden running as bashing Hillary Clinton

as some are claiming. He may well be talking about running. It is speculative at best, I admit. However, so was the fact that most of the other candidates were going to enter the race until they actually did.

I can see why the email stories are offensive, but the stories about whether or not Biden will run are so minuscule in the big picture it is ridiculous.

[ericson00]

18. yes, Martin and Haberman, their credibility died on July 9 and August 8

when they peddled the Perot-Myth on those dates with no empirical data to back it up, one of the most vile yet effective smears against the Clintons. Kornacki unleashed on them on Twitter, shoved the data in front of their faces (even NYT's own), yet they didn't retract or revise.

Once you peddle the "Clinton didn't truly win" or "Clinton was no legitimate," your agenda has shown and your credibility has died. Its basically admitting "I don't like the Clinton just because."

On this particular Biden article, notice: "according to people who have been in contact with him in recent days" (what people??) or citing the skewed Quinnipiac polls they have.