Joe Biden Said No Before. Why Run Now?Why a Joe Biden presidential run might actually make sense, according to sources close to him. --Howard Fineman
Due to a shortage of time, this is going to be pretty thin as a review or diary. But here i'tis.
Reasons why Biden is warming up to the idea of running for President:
1. Friends’ encouragement
After Beau's funeral, Joe's made a lot of calls to all those who attended. Many, many people, apparently, asked him to run.
The overwhelming and not surprising response in these calls was: Run, Joe, Run! No one could run on purer motives, they said: to restore faith in government.
2. The Clintons
The vice president had a mostly cordial relationship with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and his longtime role as a champion of women’s rights amplifies his appreciation for the former first lady.
But, privately, he looks down on what he regards as a political/money-making machine. He sees the Clintons as far more interested in cash and clout than in doing good. “They’re everything he hates about the way politics operates today,” said one friend.
As should all we Citizens' United opponents and democracy defenders.
3. Polls
Whatever lack of “heart” Biden may have had in early June, the polls in early August show that he has at least a plausible path to relevance, if not victory. He trails Clinton in national and local horse race polls. But, as a person, he is more highly regarded than she is.
The Republican attack machine, led by Fox News, has scuffed up Clinton among independents. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), meanwhile, has siphoned away progressive Democratic support.
The former secretary of state has plenty of residual strength, but not as much as she had two months ago.
4. Media dynamics
"Biden's entry would be an obvious media sensation. But the internal dynamics of the press would help him as well. He will get tons of (reasonably favorable) coverage from Fox, at least early on, because Hillary Clinton remains their main target."
5. Schedule
With the delayed primary schedule, he's got time to ramp up.
6. The Irish
Not just the advantage of the Blarney stone, but "For a generation or more of aides and pols, another Biden run would be an homage to the Kennedy blend of liberal idealism, cold pragmatism, emo-driven stagecraft and sheer love of the game."
7. Can’t Let Go
It took an Irishman, the late Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D), to say it best. “It’s easier to run for president than to stop,” he once told Chris Matthews.
And if Beau did in fact urge Joe to run, it will now be even harder to stop.
However you look at it, this thing's got more legs than some would like to see.