Exclusive: Democratic donors urge Biden to challenge Clinton in U.S. 2016 race

[cali]

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - 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.

"To finish the job, America needs a leader who is respected both home and abroad, and who understands the real challenges facing American families. In our opinion, the next president must be Joe Biden. If he announces he’s running, we’re all in. It’s a campaign we know he will win," the letter says.

The signees are largely party financiers who have yet to throw their support behind Hillary Clinton, the presumptive front-runner for the Democratic nomination to the November 2016 election. Their call is the most provocative yet for Biden to take her on. The letter makes no mention of Clinton.

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http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0RI25F20150918

[annabanana]

1. the .01% want to cover their asses. . . .n/t

[NCTraveler]

2. He is polling in a solid second.

He is loved by millions. His recent surge in polls due to conversations alone shows how solid he is with the party. I can understand their wanting him to run. Really a great guy and sitting VP. I had so much respect for him before becoming VP. Seeing how he has had Obama's back has only increased my respect for him. I'm still solidly O'Malley or Clinton, even if Biden entered. I just don't think he is going to. I will welcome him with open arms if he does enter.

[Snotcicles]

9. Anybody but Bernie for you, right? nt

[NCTraveler]

11. O'Malley, Clinton, Biden, Sanders. In that order.

I would vote for Sanders with a smile on my face. Not sure what your comment has to do with the op or the discussion.

[Snotcicles]

12. It has little to do with the OP, just an observation of reading some of your comments.

I hope I didn't violate a restriction. Anyway you answered my question.

[NCTraveler]

13. Would you like it if I directed you....

to dozens and dozens of my posts in support of Sanders? Then I can link to dozens and dozens of my posts critical of Hillary. Im not one who thinks he is above criticism nor do I think all of his positions are solid or progressive. Same with Hillary and O'Malley. Though I am having a hard time criticizing O'Malley right now.

[Snotcicles]

14. Nope I'm good. nt

[SonderWoman]

3. "The letter makes no mention of Hillary"

But its URGENTLY begging Joe to challenge Hillary!

Perhaps they just like Biden.

[NCTraveler]

10. Really is funny how these articles are written to rile up a certian group and they fall for it.

"The letter makes no mention of Hillary"

[jeff47]

4. Guess they feel they need a backup plan. (nt)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. I think they're nervous about Hillary's alleged electability and looking for another moderate.

A sort of "Not as bad" as Hillary stand-in who is more acceptable to the moderately liberal liberals.

It's kinda hard to convince even the slightly left of center to get passionate about someone who is a self-declared moderate.

[beam me up scottie]

6. .

[Zorra]

7. No worries. In the end, Bernie will prevail, no matter who runs against him. nt

[Purveyor]

8. I didn't think he was going to run after his address at some jewish event but after watching him as

of late, he IS running and doing so now.

He just hasn't 'announced' yet.

Should Bernie falter, I'm good with Biden. Anybody but Clinton.

I don't want to sit out my first Presidential election since 1976 but at this point in time, I will if Clinton is the nominee.

[frylock]

15. ouch

[restorefreedom]

16. what bothers me most

I get the feeling there are two groups of people who want Biden to run. One group are the people who are his core supporters, the other group are the Democratic elites, the party bosses who are terrified of Bernie but think that Hillary can't pull this off. For them, Biden is there B plan, their anybody but Bernie plan. to the Biden core supporters, I think they should support their candidate all the way if he jumps in and do whatever they feel is right. But to the second group, I would say what a shitty thing to do. You'd be pretty much crapping all over everybody including somebody who isn't even in the race yet. You're crapping on Hillary because you don't think she can pull off a win, which I happen to agree with, but for the party leaders to treat her like that is pretty shitty, it's really shitty to the other candidates in the race of whom there are four and all are qualified to be president even if we don't agree with their policies, and it's off very shitty to Vice President Biden to consider him a contingency plan. He is a long serving senator and vice President. whatever we think of his politics, and I am not a huge fan, the notion of setting him up as some second stringer to come in and save the day is repulsive. Just more evidence of how the Democratic Party elites are trying to rig this election for their purposes. and you hillary fans? you think the party will continue to support her when she starts to really falter? They will drop her like a bag of lead. As soon as she stops performing and there's any chance that Bernie is gonna be the nominee, she is out with the trash. So think about that before you put your loyalty to the Democratic Party. they will sell Hillary out is soon as they feel she can't win, they've already sold Bernie and O'Malley out, and they are treating the vice President of United States like it an understudy. Fuck all the party leaders I hope Bernie wins by a landslide. fuck them all.

[WillyT]

17. K & R !!!