# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/121 "2015-10-21T17:09:01Z")
I probably would have voted for him, but his heart just wasn’t in it. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/122 "2015-10-21T17:46:17Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > I probably would have voted for him, but his heart just wasn’t in it. I suspect that the only reason he even considered it was because his son wanted him to run. If not for that, he probably would have taken himself out of the running long ago. Biden’s politics might not be too different from Hillary’s, but Biden himself is someone I could respect, even if I didn’t vote for him. Which is absolutely not the case for Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/123 "2015-10-21T17:47:04Z")
Looks like I fell for those reports that got rapidly retracted. Too bad. I think he would have been good for the nomination process. And even better for the functioning of government. He had a bit of a reputation in the Senate for being able to work across party lines to get things done. That is a skill any Democratic president will desperately need as the House, at least, is highly likely to stay in Republican control. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/124 "2015-10-21T18:03:52Z")
I doubt any Democratic president can make much of a dent in bipartisanship with this bunch of GOP. I wouldn’t at all consider working across party lines to be an asset. Indeed, with Obama trying to work with the GOP for much of his terms, I would reject that we need someone like that in 2016. I want someone who will fight, someone who will get things done and passed without the GOP, someone who will mock and shame them every time they get out of line. Clinton is much closer to that ideal than Biden ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/125 "2015-10-21T18:14:59Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There is much that I like about Jolted Joe. But his politics are not that much of an improvement, if any, over Hillary. So, meh. Agree, more or less. Would have preferred Biden, but Hillary won’t be too bad (knock on wood!). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/126 "2015-10-21T18:15:28Z")
For what it’s worth, predictit has him at 69% chance of running. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/127 "2015-10-21T18:42:15Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > For what it’s worth, predictit has him at 69% chance of running. > > 🙂 No… showing 3% now, but that’s people playing games with the penny stocks. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/128 "2015-10-21T18:49:50Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > For what it’s worth, predictit says it’s now a 75% chance that Biden will run. Not worth much it turns out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/129 "2015-10-21T19:00:10Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Indeed, with Obama trying to work with the GOP for much of his terms, I would reject that we need someone like that in 2016. Excuse me? Obama pays lip service to the concept of bipartisanship, and perhaps he really does try, but his attitude is an authoritarian, take-it-or-leave-it one. He doesn’t get that compromise requires, you know, compromising. So he doesn’t get bipartisanship. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/130 "2015-10-21T19:02:25Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Excuse me? > > Obama pays lip service to the concept of bipartisanship, and perhaps he really does try, but his attitude is an authoritarian, take-it-or-leave-it one. He doesn’t get that compromise requires, you know, compromising. So he doesn’t get bipartisanship. Obama bent over backwards to try and compromise over his first several years in office. He stopped when it was clear it was impossible (or possibly even years after this was clear). Right now, it’s not possible, with the Tea Party in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/131 "2015-10-21T19:28:14Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/132 "2015-10-21T19:58:56Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Obama bent over backwards to try and compromise over his first several years in office. He stopped when it was clear it was impossible (or possibly even years after this was clear). Right now, it’s not possible, with the Tea Party in charge. Not as I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/133 "2015-10-21T20:09:10Z")
Joe’s out… > **[Biden won't run for Democratic nomination for president | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/joe-biden-president-nomination-1.3281916)** > > U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden declared Wednesday he won't run for president in 2016, ending a months-long flirtation with a third White House campaign and setting him on a glide path toward the end of his decades-long political career. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/134 "2015-10-21T20:26:24Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > Not as I saw it. Not how I saw it either. It’s always appeared to me that Obama has an inflexible, “It’s my way or the highway” approach to dealing with people. Biden is someone who has the personality and/or skills to deal with political opponents, and the 2016 election is poorer without him in it. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/135 "2015-10-21T20:36:28Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There is much that I like about Jolted Joe. But his politics are not that much of an improvement, if any, over Hillary. So, meh. Right. He’s a white male version of Clinton, so he’s Establishment DNC without the cachet of being the first woman President. By that same logic, I doubt he’ll even be tapped as Veep. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/136 "2015-10-21T22:44:51Z")
Clearly, the answer to the OP was no. Hell, just because he is VP didn’t mean he was entitled to jack shit. Other candidates, including [Bush I](http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-04/news/mn-4632_1_campaign-committee) and [Al Gore](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/1999/03/what_are_exploratory_committees.html) started exploratory committees and organization early. They weren’t lazy like Joe Biden was, as well as Fred Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/137 "2015-10-21T23:23:09Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Clearly, the answer to the OP was no. Hell, just because he is VP didn’t mean he was entitled to jack shit. Other candidates, including [Bush I](http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-04/news/mn-4632_1_campaign-committee) and [Al Gore](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/1999/03/what_are_exploratory_committees.html) started exploratory committees and organization early. They weren’t lazy like Joe Biden was, as well as Fred Thompson. Biden wasn’t lazy. He was probably honestly conflicted about his duties: Should he run for President to try and win it because he honestly thinks he’d be a good man for the job, or should he concede the field to Clinton, who is probably a stronger candidate than he is with similar policies and a longer track record? I think he ultimately made the right decision, especially given how long it took him, but I don’t fault him for taking his time to make up his mind. It was a tough choice. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/138 "2015-10-21T23:33:06Z")
If only more potential candidates were as considered. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/139 "2015-10-22T04:39:52Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Excuse me? > > Obama pays lip service to the concept of bipartisanship, and perhaps he really does try, but his attitude is an authoritarian, take-it-or-leave-it one. He doesn’t get that compromise requires, you know, compromising. So he doesn’t get bipartisanship. Could you share a few examples of President Obama’s inflexibility? Or do you just see his “attitude” as “uppity”? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714/140 "2015-10-22T11:15:35Z")
Inflexibility and being a dictator are not Obama’s problems. It’s more his academic background and lack of experience with the give and take of politics. Obama’s strategy of “negotiation” has been what he and his fans view as “preemptive concessions”. He gives the Republicans what he thinks they want and then can’t understand why that’s not really what they wanted, so he and his fans assume that they never wanted to negotiate. Except that’s not how negotiation works. You put an offer on the table, the other side comes up with a counter offer, and you haggle. Instead, Obama would put what he thought was a very generous offer on the table, the Republicans would rightly assume that was his first offer, and they’d offer something more to their liking, then Obama says, “I’ve already made all the concessions I can make, I’ve given you all sorts of things you say you want.” Except he never actually asked Republicans what they wanted. Biden negotiated the bulk of the debt ceiling deal. He would have had a lot more success working with Congress than Obama has. Clinton will do a better job as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-donors-urge-biden-to-run-should-he/731714.md?page=8)