Biden says he knows South Carolina visit will spark buzz about a presidential bid

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

Vice President Biden, in town to speak Friday night at an annual fundraising dinner for the South Carolina Democratic Party, said he knows his appearance will generate buzz about whether he’s getting ready for a presidential run.

After all, South Carolina usually holds one of the first primary contests and is a frequent stop for potential candidates, but he insists that his visit was to assist fellow Democrats running for Congress, including Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert, who is in a tough race against former Republican governor Mark Sanford.

“As soon as I show up in South Carolina, the Washington press corps comes out and says, ‘Is Biden getting ready?’ ” the vice president said at the party dinner, insisting that he came at the request of another Democrat, South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn. “I’ve got to make clear: I would go anywhere Jim asked me to go.”

At the Democratic confab, more than 1,000 people packed a ballroom for the $125-a-plate dinner, where Biden laid into House Republicans for “fighting like the devil” for a budget plan that he said slashes education, undercuts law enforcement and gets rid of Medicare.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-south-carolina-biden-and-ted-cruz-hit-the-dinner-circuit-in-pre-election-appeals/2013/05/03/760ebafa-b45f-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html

[JimDandy]

1. I'd vote for Biden before I'd vote for Hillary Clinton. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

2. I'm hoping for an alternative to both.

[JimDandy]

3. Progressives will need a good ground game in the Dem primary

process to get a good liberal or progressive candidate through, instead of a 3rd Way, Blue dog, Repub lite or Corporateer candidate.

[davidpdx]

8. I don't think either will run

Which is going to cause some on DU to flip out. Both have had distinguished political careers and will support the eventual nominee.

[Lugnut]

4. I would too. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

5. We could do waaay worse than Biden in 2016. I hope he runs.

I don't always see eye to eye with him on everything but he's experienced, authentic.

It's true he doesn't play 11 dimensional chess.

He plays hardball.

PB

[David__77]

6. I could certainly support Biden. He's better than some names out there.

...

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. if Hillary runs I just can't see it. What would be his base? He certainly does not offer an

ideological alternative to Hillary. As Vice President he would not be able to position himself to the left of Hillary in order to appeal to the progressive wing. There is no broad constituency that would prefer him to Hillary. He does not have a particular Charisma factor that might ignite a campaign. Now, if for some reason Hillary does not run - he would by default become the frontrunner. But if Hillary does not run there will be more major league contenders entering the race than if she does.