After many months of speculation, current Vice-President Joe Biden announced that he will not be running for President in 2016. Had Biden decided to run, he would have brought major competition to Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.
With Biden’s decision, he will most likely have a descending path as his decades-long political career looks to be slowing down.
Biden made his announcement in the White House Rose Garden. He said that he did not have enough time left to prepare a viable campaign while he was still mourning the loss of his son Beau last May.
The Vice-President said, “Unfortunately, I believe we’re out of time.”
Biden went on to say that his family would have supported him had he decided to make a run for office. Biden’s wife Jill and President Barack Obama stood alongside Biden as he made his announcement.
Many Democrat voters viewed Biden as a potentially strong alternative to Hillary Clinton. The current Vice-President had engaged in several discussions with political advisers and his family about the possibility of him running for president over the past several months.
However, as more time passed, political analysts began stating that it was too late for Biden to make a real effort. The final nail in the coffin was likely the strong performances by Sanders and Clinton at the most recent Democratic debate.
In his speech, Biden did not offer an endorsement for Sanders or Clinton. That being said he did encourage the Democrat Party to follow the example set by current President Barack Obama.
Biden said, “While I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent.”
Other candidates took to social media to offer their support of Biden’s decision.
GOP leading candidate Donald Trump used the opportunity to attack Hillary Clinton.
“I think Joe Biden made correct decision for him and his family. Personally, I would rather run against Hillary because her record is so bad,” he tweeted.
Biden ran for President twice in the past. He had failed runs in 1987 and 2008.
Biden has not revealed any plans for after his term as Vice-President. Those close to Biden say that he might start a foundation or take a role as an adviser. He has also talked about doing work for his alma mater of the University of Delaware.
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