Stay away: Clinton team sending not-so-subtle messages to VP on 2016 run
Politics
Stay away: Clinton team sending not-so-subtle messages to VP on 2016 run
As the vice president ponders a challenge to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, the former secretary of state has rolled out a string of high-profile endorsements and aggressive fundraising initiatives (about three-dozen events in September alone) across the country to maintain her frontrunner status. Her campaign team — and even Clinton, herself — has contacted donors who have publicly expressed support for a Biden run. And while Clinton and her team speak warmly of Joe Biden in public, they have taken steps to show their dominance over the party’s establishment and President Obama’s political infrastructure in hopes of discouraging the vice president from entering the race.
I think [Biden] has to make what is a very difficult decision for himself and his family. He should have the space and the opportunity to decide what he wants to do.
Hillary Clinton
Her endorsements include former Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, who joined Clinton onstage last week at the Iowa State Fair, and this week garnered support from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor who wrote in an op-ed in the Gazette of Cedar Rapids that he intended to caucus for her, “plain and simple.” Even so, there is an undercurrent of support for a Biden run — even within the Clinton camp. Those advocating for a Biden run say they’ll be able to build a vibrant primary organization and have already solicited commitments from a number of Clinton backers who say they are ready to switch sides.
They don’t want to put their neck out unless they know Biden is in this. But I have no doubt he’ll be able to put together a national fundraising infrastructure in place overnight.
Jon Cooper, finance chairman of the Draft Biden super PAC
