# Is Joe Biden a viable/likely candidate for President? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 14, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488 "2015-06-14T05:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/1 "2015-06-14T05:20:13Z")
If not, why not? I read an article\* somewhere recently that said he was, in fact, the ideal Democratic candidate. - Can’t remember where. It was either NYTimes, Washington Post, Atlantic, or TIME. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/2 "2015-06-14T05:25:40Z")
He **would** be–he’s the epitome of “establishment.” Except for his fatal flaw. His chronic foot in mouth disease. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/3 "2015-06-14T05:38:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If not, why not? I read an article\* somewhere recently that said he was, in fact, the ideal Democratic candidate. > > - Can’t remember where. It was either NYTimes, Washington Post, Atlantic, or TIME. I’ve always thought much the same. He’s tenacious, intelligent and center-leftish. And a damn fine speaker. The supposed “foot in mouth disease” is exaggerated, if not complete baloney and media distortion. But there is no way I can see him launching a head to head challenge against Hillary. Plus, recent tragic family events are likely to change his personal focus considerably. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/4 "2015-06-14T05:43:04Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > He **would** be–he’s the epitome of “establishment.” > > Except for his fatal flaw. His chronic foot in mouth disease. Gerald Ford had that, too. He survived it. I think the public would find Biden’s candor a refreshing change from over-scripted candidates who are afraid to alienate anyone by admitting to having an actual opinion. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/5 "2015-06-14T12:51:56Z")
I think Biden’s “foot in mouth disease” is pretty much the same as Obama’s “apology tour”, entirely fiction but some people believe it because of sheer repetition. If Biden had any desire to run, I think Beau’s death pretty much ended them. As a parent, I can’t imagine going through the death of a child and then wanting to jump right in and start the grueling campaign process. As far as we know, he hasn’t been lining donors up or assembling a campaign staff and at this point it’s probably too late, barring death or scandal for Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/6 "2015-06-14T15:13:53Z")
Biden’s not running because Clinton is. He’s a savvy enough politician to realize both that he can’t beat Clinton and that for him to try would be tremendously damaging for both of them. However, should Clinton be forced out of the race for some reason, I have no doubt that Biden is ready to step in as the wise, experienced hand ready to carry on the Obama legacy. Particularly if Clinton drops out after or even shortly before the primary/caucus voting starts, he would have a very strong case to be a consensus candidate that the country as a whole could support more than the relatively unknown challengers already in the race. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/7 "2015-06-14T15:41:40Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think Biden’s “foot in mouth disease” is pretty much the same as Obama’s “apology tour”, entirely fiction but some people believe it because of sheer repetition. Entirely fiction, eh? [http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1895156,00.html](http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1895156,00.html) ---
**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:** [June 14, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/8 "2015-06-14T17:23:39Z")
He’s not viable because he’s not running. Should he decide to run, he’d probably shoot immediately to 2nd place, still far behind HRC. Should Clinton drop out, he’d be the instant front runner. Foot-in-mouth is not a media fiction for him. But it’s not a big deal, because he is a _VERY_ likable guy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/9 "2015-06-14T18:23:54Z")
He does not have foot-in-mouth disease. That’s when you say things you didn’t mean to. His “problem”, such as it is, is that sometimes he says _exactly_ what he means. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/10 "2015-06-14T23:34:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Gerald Ford had that, too. He survived it. By what standard? He was never voted in as President or Vice-President, he lost his re-election bid and his most lasting legacy was abusing the presidential pardon to protect his friend and establishing the precedent that the president is above the law. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/11 "2015-06-15T00:02:14Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > By what standard? He was never voted in as President or Vice-President, he lost his re-election bid and his most lasting legacy was abusing the presidential pardon to protect his friend and establishing the precedent that the president is above the law. Nixon and he were never friends and I’d question the idea that he abused presidential power. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/12 "2015-06-15T00:07:17Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Nixon and he were never friends Ford said they were. > [@](#): > > “I had no hesitancy about granting the pardon,” Mr. Ford told Mr. Woodward, “because I felt that we had this relationship and that I didn’t want to see my real friend have the stigma.” ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/13 "2015-06-15T01:40:40Z")
No because he is too far to the left ---
**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:** [June 15, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/14 "2015-06-15T03:10:49Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Entirely fiction, eh? > > [Complete List - Top 10 Joe Biden Gaffes - TIME](http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1895156,00.html) I looked at the first 6 of those and there wasn’t much of substance so I didn’t bother with the rest. Sorry; tempest in a teapot, each one. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > He’s not viable because he’s not running. Should he decide to run, he’d probably shoot immediately to 2nd place, still far behind HRC. Should Clinton drop out, he’d be the instant front runner. > > Foot-in-mouth is not a media fiction for him. But it’s not a big deal, because he is a _VERY_ likable guy. > [@Chronos](#): > > He does not have foot-in-mouth disease. That’s when you say things you didn’t mean to. His “problem”, such as it is, is that sometimes he says _exactly_ what he means. Though not in 100% agreement, these two posts pretty much sum it up. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/15 "2015-06-15T03:26:34Z")
So in the past seven years as Vice-President, what verbal gaffes has he made? I don’t recall any, but it’s not like I’ve been paying much attention to him. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/16 "2015-06-15T04:01:23Z")
Joe Biden’s 72 years old. I like the man, but 72 is kind of long in the tooth for a presidential run. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/17 "2015-06-15T07:42:38Z")
Joe Biden would make a fine President, and an interesting one as well. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/18 "2015-06-15T10:54:23Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > So in the past seven years as Vice-President, what verbal gaffes has he made? I don’t recall any, but it’s not like I’ve been paying much attention to him. Eh, he did tell a Democratic politician in a wheelchair to stand up so people could get a better look at him, and when he met the Irish Prime Minister on St Patrick’s Day, he made a joke about not allowing anybody wearing Orange in the room, which annoyed Irish Unionists. He also, at one point, insinuated the former Irish Prime Minister’s mother was dead, when she wasn’t. He also called the recently deceased President of Singapore “the wisest man in the Orient”, which, while not really a gaffe, annoyed the people who don’t like the term “Orient”. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/19 "2015-06-15T11:26:35Z")
Biden only gaffes in the traditional sense: he tells the truth. He tells you what he’s thinking. He’s incapable of lying, not a bad trait in a leader. Although often inconvenient for him and those around him in power. One thing a Biden administration would not be good at is spin. Thank goodness. Spin and messaging are the bane of the Republic. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488/20 "2015-06-15T12:10:22Z")
His “you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” was a serious stumble for his 2008 campaign - while everyone understood what he really meant, the implications of his actual words were pretty offensive. I’ve never been much of a Biden fan, and apart from his verbal gaffes he’s had a few incidences of [public handsiness](http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/joe-bidens-woman-touching-habit/article/2560311#!)that have been faintly creepy (albeit, again, minor in themselves). Add to that his age and recent family tragedies and I don’t think he could go the distance despite his various positives. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-joe-biden-a-viable-likely-candidate-for-president/722488.md?page=2)