Subject: Vocal Biden backer joins super PAC urging VP to run in 2016 | News & Observer
From: "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2015 19:42:49 -0400

Vocal Biden backer joins super PAC urging VP to run in 2016 | News &
Observer

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article29906851.html

Vocal Biden backer joins super PAC urging VP to run in 2016

One of Vice President Joe Biden's most vocal supporters joined the super
PAC urging him to run for president Monday, as interest in Biden's
political future spiked amid fresh signs that his aides are looking closely
at a 2016 campaign.

Dick Harpootlian, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic
Party, said he was writing a $10,000 check to the group Draft Biden, and
was prepared to donate another $10,000 of his personal funds if asked. He
said he was formally endorsing Draft Biden and would immediately begin
raising money on its behalf.

A prominent figure in South Carolina politics, Harpootlian has been
publicly encouraging Biden to run for president for years, but had kept his
distance from Draft Biden out of concern that it lacked the support of
Biden and his political team. The super PAC isn't affiliated with Biden and
his aides have said they don't speak to the group's leaders.

But Harpootlian, in an interview with The Associated Press, said his
calculus changed on Sunday when Josh Alcorn, the top political aide to
Biden's late son and former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, announced
he had joined Draft Biden. A known commodity in the Biden world, Alcorn
raised money for Joe Biden's 2008 presidential campaign, and also served in
the top fundraising role for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid's vast
political operation.

"The fact he's now in the project sends a message to me and others that
this process is moving forward," said Harpootlian, whose state has an early
primary in the presidential campain. "Does that mean Joe Biden is going to
run? No. But it means at least some folks around him believe they need to
get ready in case he does."

Biden's aides have previously sought to dispel the notion that Harpootlian
has inside knowledge about Biden's political plans, despite his long track
record of supporting the vice president. Hartpootlian said he hasn't spoken
to Biden since shortly before his son died in May.

Still, Hartpootlian's decision comes as Biden's associates are resuming
discussions about a 2016 presidential run after largely shelving such
deliberations while his son was sick and dying earlier this year.

People close to Biden say he hasn't told his staff whether he will run or
personally asked them to do any planning. But recent conversations between
Biden's associates and Democratic donors and operatives have led to
speculation that Biden will challenge front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton
for the party's nomination. Individuals close to Biden have started looking
into the options that might be available to him if he were to run, such as
potential staff in Iowa and the filing deadlines for entering the
Democratic field, said the individuals, who spoke to the AP on condition of
anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deliberations
publicly.

The renewed focus on Biden comes amid some signs of weakness for Clinton,
including declines in her favorability ratings among voters in recent
polling. In another promising sign for Biden, longtime Biden supporters in
key, early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire have said they're
holding out hope he'll run again.

"I'm having conversations with personal friends, people I know that haven't
committed. Trying to keep them uncommitted," said Iowa State Sen. Tony
Bisignano, who endorsed Biden in 2008 and 1998. If Biden gets in the race,
he added, "we'll be ready to start organizing."

---

Associated Press writer Catherine Lucey in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to
this report.

Eric D. Schwerin
[email-masked]

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