Subject: Confidential Note from VP
From: "William Russo" <[email-masked]>
To: "Mike Donilon" <[email-masked]>, "Steve Ricchetti" <[email-masked]>, "Valerie Owens" <[email-masked]>, "Jill Biden" <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2018 12:42:51 -0500

VP had dinner with Senator Mitchell after he moderated last night’s book tour event. He asked that I share this paraphrased remark from Sen. Mitchell:

Bottom line, Joe: you are going to have to run. It is not about you, but it is about the country. You are the only one who can assuredly beat Trump. Otherwise there is a good chance that he will win. The country cannot withstand the damage that will come from 8 years of a Trump presidency. You can take your time, there is probably no need to make a decision this year. But your message is necessary to win PA, WI, and OH and you have progressive credentials on the left. 

Per VP, they also discussed Sens. Bradley, Daschle, and some of their other former colleagues who had pushed VP to run in 2016 and who support 2020. 

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Bill Russo
Spokesperson
Office of Vice President Biden