# Democratic Donors Urge Biden to Run. Should he? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 18, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714 "2015-09-18T22:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/1 "2015-09-18T22:07:59Z")
[Democratic Donors Urge Joe Biden To Challenge Hillary Clinton](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/joe-biden-hillary-clinton_55fc5c70e4b0fde8b0ce25bb) > [@HuffPo](#): > > A group of prominent Democratic Party fundraisers on Friday began circulating a letter to encourage a hesitant Vice President Joe Biden to enter the 2016 race for U.S. president. > > “We write today to publicly announce our support for Vice President Biden, to urge him to join the Presidential race, and to pledge our support if he does,” they write in the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. > > It calls the Obama-Biden administration a “spectacular success.” It cites job creation, a lower unemployment rate, new health insurance policies for nearly nine million Americans and the end of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don’t know. On the one hand, I am concerned about Biden’s penchant to put his foot in his mouth and his abrasive confrontational style. I also think the taint of plagiarism from decades ago still dogs him and I can almost see the inevitable Republican ads skewering him with it ad-nauseam. On the other hand, the idea of a Biden run kind of excites me. Am I crazy to think Biden has a chance against Hilary, and then the eventual Republican nominee? To be frank, I am more worried about him going against Hilary than any Republican. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/2 "2015-09-18T22:20:31Z")
Um, no. Do you honestly think the entire party isn’t aware of the intentions of the sitting Vice President? He’s had 2 failed presidential runs. He will jump in only if Hillary has a serious medical issue. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/3 "2015-09-18T22:32:47Z")
I think the main thing he has going for him is that he seems like a much more likable guy than Clinton. I’ve never thought of her as being likable, and I do worry this will matter. In my lifetime, at least, it’s always the more likable person who seems to win. (Though I admit I’m making an assumption about Dukakis, as I was too busy with my new sister and being three-years-old to pay attention to politics.) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/4 "2015-09-19T01:04:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > In my lifetime, at least, it’s always the more likable person who seems to win. Since Nixon is in my lifetime, my experience is different. I agree with Barack Obama. “You’re likable enough, Hillary.” Also, Biden would find if quite difficult to avoid having his likability tarnished by gaffes along the lines of the one I just quoted. All politicians make some gaffes, but Joe Biden makes more. Do Trump’s supporters love him more for his unlikability? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/5 "2015-09-19T02:41:38Z")
Biden absolutely should run, and I think he has a very good chance of being the next President if he does. And are we seriously talking about plagiarism in 1988 as a real scandal when his competition would be Hillary Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/6 "2015-09-19T02:44:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Biden absolutely should run, and I think he has a very good chance of being the next President if he does. > > And are we seriously talking about plagiarism in 1988 as a real scandal when his competition would be Hillary Clinton? I think it’s getting a big late (assuming no Hillary collapse). I think there’s a very significant chance that he and his family just don’t have it in them any more (entirely understandably). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/7 "2015-09-19T02:47:48Z")
Maybe, but he’s sure “testing the waters” hard. And if Sanders is beating Clinton in the first two states, why can’t Joe? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/8 "2015-09-19T02:57:59Z")
No, Biden should not run. He has zero chance of becoming POTUS unless Obama dies before 20 January 2017. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/9 "2015-09-19T02:58:06Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Maybe, but he’s sure “testing the waters” hard. And if Sanders is beating Clinton in the first two states, why can’t Joe? It’d be pretty hard to put together a campaign infrastructure in the limited time left, but maybe not impossible. We’ll see. I don’t think it’s the possibility of losing that prevents him from running – I think it’s all about the personal desire and family stuff. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/10 "2015-09-19T05:09:52Z")
He can draw some Anyone But Hillary voters and some Anyone But That Independent voters. Obviously he loses the Emily’s List crowd. I don’t know if he’s simultaneously too Wall Street for the progressives and too working-class for the yuppie Clintonistas, or if he’s just the right mix of regular-guy and old establishment hand to work as a unity compromise. Maybe the former. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/11 "2015-09-19T14:56:52Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Maybe, but he’s sure “testing the waters” hard. A lot of reporters with nothing else to say are talking about it. But no, \*he \*isn’t doing anything but politely saying he doesn’t have the “emotional energy” to do it. But you can dream. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/12 "2015-09-19T15:05:58Z")
This strikes me as the establishment getting worried about Sanders momentum and trying to get Biden to split off some of his supporters. I can’t really imagine that Democratic doners are that psyched about Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/13 "2015-09-19T15:43:28Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > I can’t really imagine that Democratic doners are that psyched about Biden. Why not? Doesn’t he poll better than Hillary, versus various Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/14 "2015-09-19T15:46:43Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > This strikes me as the establishment getting worried about Sanders momentum and trying to get Biden to split off some of his supporters. I can’t really imagine that Democratic doners are that psyched about Biden. I like my Democratic [doners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doner_kebab) on pita bread with yogurt sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/15 "2015-09-19T16:35:48Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Why not? Doesn’t he poll better than Hillary, versus various Republicans? That’s true, and it could be cold calculation by the doners. It’s the timing that strikes me as suspicious. It wasn’t until Sanders started to make this a real contest that calls for Biden to join the race became widespread among insiders. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/16 "2015-09-19T16:56:46Z")
And \*all \*of that is happening in August/September - aka Silly Season. Not that the Anybody But Hillary faction is going away anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/17 "2015-09-20T01:59:20Z")
If Biden does decide to run, it’s sounding more and more like he would give Hilary a run for her money. > [@](#): > > ## Vice President Joe Biden’s last-minute decision to score some facetime with powerful black leaders may do little to shake their strong inclination toward Hillary Clinton. But among the rank-and-file attendees at Saturday’s prayer breakfast hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Democratic primary is still a wide open fight. > > Also among them was Martin Luther King, III, son and namesake of the civil rights leader. He told POLITICO that Biden would fare well if he decided to run. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/joe-biden-black-lawmakers-2016-213848](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/joe-biden-black-lawmakers-2016-213848) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/18 "2015-09-20T03:36:03Z")
I love Joe Biden and have for at least 20 years or more. I find the legacy of the Biden Crime Bill disturbing though it isn’t a deal killer for me. His family also is very appealing and Dr. Jill seems to be pretty awesome. But, I don’t think he should jump in. I don’t think he can beat HRC and I fear if he did, he wouldn’t do well against a semi-sane GOP candidate. Did anyone else see any of HRC on Fallon the other night? She seemed more relaxed and at ease than I have seen in a while. I am wondering if her unlikable factor has been exaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/19 "2015-09-20T03:42:19Z")
Clinton is likeable when she’s herself, but she’s so guarded and obsessed with her privacy that she puts a mask on in public. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/20 "2015-09-20T03:43:26Z")
this is why I can’t stand political press: they write a story “Democratic Donors…” but don’t indicate the magnitude of “donors”: as many as, more than, or less than Hillary Clinton’s donors? Biden will not run because even if he has some donors, he’ll have way too many less than Hillary to catch up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714.md?page=2)