Subject: For Biden, upcoming vacation a time to decide on White House run - CNNPolitics.com
From: "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2015 09:39:24 -0400

For Biden, upcoming vacation a time to decide on White House run -
CNNPolitics.com

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/07/politics/joe-biden-presidential-run-2016/index.html

Story highlights

Washington (CNN)With Congress vanished from Washington, and President
Barack Obama ensconced on Martha's Vineyard, the time is nearing for Vice
President Joe Biden to reckon with another bid for the White House.

The subject of growing presidential chatter this week after reports emerged
his aides were making preliminary moves toward a run, Biden hasn't yet made
up his mind on launching a campaign.

RELATED: Joe Biden keeps watchful eye on 2016 race
<http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/>

No one he's spoken with can say whether the vice president is leaning one
way or the other. And the grief he felt in the immediate aftermath of his
son's death this summer is far from gone.

But as Washington quiets down for the steamy August lull, Biden will soon
decamp for a family vacation to gauge his loved ones' interest -- and
willingness -- for a third presidential bid.
<img alt="&amp;#39;Biden&amp;#39; his
time" class="media__image" src="
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">

And while he's vacationed there often, Biden's choice of getaway spot --
Kiawah Island, South Carolina -- certainly won't quiet any speculation
about a presidential run.

Enthusiasm for a run from his sons -- including from the late Beau Biden,
who before his death encouraged his father to launch a bid -- will be a
factor.

But it's the opinions of his wife and sister that Biden's confidantes
expect to carry the most weight.

RELATED: Joe Biden jokes about 2016 plans
<http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/politics/joe-biden-2016-joke/>

Second lady Jill Biden, who hasn't spoken recently about the chance of a
third Biden presidential run, did appear open to the possibility of her
husband mounting another campaign for president during a 2012 interview
with USA Today.

"I've learned through many, many, many elections that you just take it one
step at a time," she said then. "Sometimes when we've folded our tents and
gone, I'll say, 'Joe, never again; we're never doing this again.'"

"You know, things happen for a reason," she added.

Biden's sister Valerie, a top political adviser who helped run his 2008
presidential campaign, told Delaware Online this week she hadn't spoken to
her brother about making another bid.

"He'll decide when he decides," she said.

The other opinion Biden is likely to value: Obama's. The two men have grown
close over the course of their White House tenures, and although he won't
be able to endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary, or even appear to
lean toward one, Obama's aides expect his private political advice to be
sought both by Hillary Clinton and Biden.

The vice president may have received that guidance this week when he and
Obama sat down for their weekly lunch, though the precise contents of their
conversation are known only to them.

"I suspect they covered a variety of topics -- some personal, some public,
as they relate to ongoing debates," White House Press Secretary Josh
Earnest said. "I wouldn't be surprised if there was maybe even some
politics discussed."

RELATED: Top Senate Democrat: Biden 'owes it to himself' to consider 2016
run
<http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/politics/dick-durbin-joe-biden-president/>

For Biden, a deadline of sorts for declaring his candidacy was established
this week when the Democratic National Committee announced its schedule of
primary debates. The first forum will come Oct. 13 at a CNN-sponsored event
in Nevada.
<img alt="Clinton
aide reacts to possibility of Biden bid" class="media__image" src="
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">
Clinton aide reacts to possibility of Biden bid 06:04

As of now, five declared candidates are expected to appear: Clinton,
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chaffee and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb.

If he were to become the sixth contender on stage, Biden's supporters would
look for him to become the main foil to frontrunner Clinton, even as the
race's newcomer.

Though he's not a declared candidate, and could pass on a bid, Biden has
been kept informed on the Democratic debate process by party officials.

"We have, actually, throughout this process, been briefing and keeping up
to speed potential and declared candidates for president. And we know all
of our candidates were at one point a potential candidate," Democratic
National Committee chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz told CNN on
Friday.

"So, yes, we briefed the vice president's team," she said. "He's not ruled
out the possibility of running for president and he's the sitting vice
president of the United States of America. Of course he'll be welcome if he
decides to run."

Eric D. Schwerin
[email-masked]

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