The Man Behind Joe Biden's Possible Late-Entry 2016 Run

[KoKo]

(Interesting "inside politics" read on possible Biden run)

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Steve Ricchetti is the man behind the vice president and possible late-entry presidential candidate.

By Edward-Isaac Dovere--Politico

Beating Hillary Clinton would be really hard, Steve Ricchetti told Vice President Joe Biden. But if you really do want to think about jumping into the presidential race — and this late — here are the meetings, the trips, the donor calls and everything else that you’re going to have to do.

Ricchetti, the vice president's chief of staff, is the force guiding Biden's deliberations over whether to run for president in 2016, a primary contest that would pit him against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Ricchetti knows what he's up against, because he used to play for the other team. Twenty years ago, as an aide in the White House, he was so close to the then-first lady that staffers called him “Rodham Ricchetti.''

These days, no one is in a more awkward spot than he is, Ricchetti's been telling people.

The ties couldn’t be closer: Ricchetti was tight with both Clintons — “I still love them!” he’s said in recent days — and was Clinton campaign chairman and John Podesta’s deputy White House chief of staff in the 1990s.
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Then again, Ricchetti’s joked to people, he was part of the so-called red team responsible for beating up Bill Clinton in the 1996 debate prep. He knows the Clintons’ vulnerabilities. And he knows how to press on them with a small team and not a lot of resources.

Then there’s Ricchetti: trying to keep his thumb off the scale, laying it all out for Biden about what running would really take, what it would really mean.

“He’s a mechanic,” said a longtime friend and colleague of Ricchetti. “And that’s exactly what the vice president needs right now.”
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Ricchetti knows that the Clintons will probably never forgive him if Biden runs. He’s trying to keep up some appearances though, telling people that his one rule for Biden is that he won’t go negative on Hillary Clinton, no matter what. They’re paying attention in Brooklyn.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/joe-biden-steve-ricchetti-2016-campaign-213245#ixzz3kaJw0Dg4

[MineralMan]

1. I think Biden says No.

That's what I think.

[elfin]

2. I agree. UNLESS something big blows up and he scoots onto ballots

Very late in the game. Reading different deadlines for that action. May be state by state - don't know.

[ram2008]

3. I think Yes

So far all of his moves point to him positioning himself for a run. I think the only thing that would stop him is a poll reversal of some sort.

[KoKo]

4. Only as a "Fail Safe," imho..

I think there is concern enough to keep his name out there in the public for recognition...just in case something unexpected happens down the road.

[Skwmom]

5. I wonder if there was a Clinton/Biden deal.

That way they make sure it is another Corporate Democratic ticket.

[KoKo]

6. If there is...then its because of worries

Last edited Wed Sep 2, 2015, 08:33 PM - Edit history (3)

about Hillary's E-Mail situation exploding and if Bernie has a surge, if eventually, Hillary runs into trouble with that.

No Way does our Dem Party Establishment want to deal with Bernie as a Candidate. They sent Rahm and Others out to Trash the Dem Left when Obama was Elected and it went Downhill after that for those of us Democratic Voting Environmental Advocates, Anti-Iraq/ME Invasion and "Hold Wall Street Accountable," Single Payer Advocates and Anti-TPP Agreements constituents in Dem Party.

Look at the difference with Wasserman-Schultz compared to Howard Dean and his successful "50 State Strategy" in his Prime before he was removed from DNC Chair and turned towards the Third Way.

[Skwmom]

7. The Corporate Democrats don't want to control Congress. It's easier to get a corporate agenda

accomplished without all those progressive, populist Democrats around.

[aidbo]

8. This^

Is not mentioned enough. IMO