Why Joe Biden could skip N.H. (and Iowa and promise one term) if he runs for president

[morningfog]

Amid speculation surrounding Vice President Joe Biden’s moves toward a presidential bid in 2016, Democrats have raised two potential strategies for a Biden run.

The first: Biden, 72, could run with the promise to serve only a single term. The second: He could skip the first two nominating contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire, beginning his third presidential campaign in South Carolina instead

Whether he should run as a single-term president is intriguing, but it is also a purely a political decision — perhaps with no right answer. But the second issue, whether he could skip Iowa and New Hampshire, is a logistical question worth exploring.

The rationale for Biden to skip Iowa and New Hampshire is this: He would enter the race too late to compete in those states. Ignoring those states, which allot their delegates proportionally, would mean losing out on a few dozen delegates out of the thousands he would need to win the nomination. If he began his bid in South Carolina, Biden would save millions of dollars and have a chance to build an organization to compete with the current front-runner, former US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton.

There’s another reason why South Carolina would be Biden’s best opportunity. His top Democratic rivals have spent significantly less time and money there compared to Iowa and New Hampshire. Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont combined have spent just nine days in South Carolina this presidential cycle — compared to 28 days in New Hampshire. What’s more, Clinton’s campaign has been airing television advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire for a month.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/08/25/why-joe-biden-could-skip-new-hampshire-runs-for-president/LRHsnQD4uKTlzmlwAMXdDP/story.html

[big_dog]

1. he needs to win South Carolina though, putting all of his chips in one basket

and we would do well in the 'SEC Tuesday' primary to build momentum afterwords

[morningfog]

2. Yes, it isn't a very strong strategy.

[big_dog]

3. he would need at least a close 2nd in South Carolina

if Bernie beats him there it would be over.