U.S.
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Vice President Joe Biden has enlisted longtime political operatives and staff to lay the ground for a potential 2016 presidential bid — and a formal announcement is being eyed for the end of September, sources close to the veteran Democrat told Al Jazeera.
Biden has not yet decided whether to jump into the race, according to sources, who add that staff who have spoken to Biden are “convinced” that he favors running. In the meantime, he has been carefully gauging the interest of Democratic donors, activists and party elites. Over the weekend he reportedly met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a powerful figure in the Senate and a popular figure among the party’s progressive activists.
The vice president and former senator of Delaware is also said to be consulting family members and loved ones who would be affected by his candidacy. The Biden family recently lost one of Joe Biden’s sons, 46-year-old Delaware politician Beau Biden, to a battle with brain cancer.
Hillary Clinton’s ongoing email troubles appear to be fueling the conviction among Biden supporters that he might have a serious chance in the presidential race. Clinton has come under fire for using her private email address to conduct official State Department business while she was serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Earlier this month Clinton turned her email server over to the Justice Department; Al Jazeera subsequently learned the FBI was treating its inquiry into the email controversy as a potential criminal investigation.
Even if the email controversy does lasting harm to Clinton’s candidacy, Biden may have difficulty finding traction with sections of the Democratic electorate. As a United States senator, he was an unrepentant drug warrior, working to pass mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and funding legislation that helped police departments buy military equipment.
That record may leave Biden out of step with the overall mood of the Democratic base. Black Lives Matters protesters have been working to make police reform a central issue in the campaign, and the current Democratic candidates have largely responded by unveiling proposals intended to address those concerns.
Others on the left of the party have aired concern to Politico regarding Biden's tenure in the Obama administration, which they feel has been too friendly to the financial sector. Biden also voted to authorize combat operations in Iraq in 2003. Clinton did the same as a New York senator, something which hindered her 2008 presidential campaign during primary season.
CNN reported Tuesday that President Barack Obama has reportedly given his “blessing” to Biden’s potential 2016 run.
Additional reporting by David Shuster
Biden has not yet decided whether to jump into the race, according to sources, who add that staff who have spoken to Biden are “convinced” that he favors running. In the meantime, he has been carefully gauging the interest of Democratic donors, activists and party elites. Over the weekend he reportedly met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a powerful figure in the Senate and a popular figure among the party’s progressive activists.
The vice president and former senator of Delaware is also said to be consulting family members and loved ones who would be affected by his candidacy. The Biden family recently lost one of Joe Biden’s sons, 46-year-old Delaware politician Beau Biden, to a battle with brain cancer.
Hillary Clinton’s ongoing email troubles appear to be fueling the conviction among Biden supporters that he might have a serious chance in the presidential race. Clinton has come under fire for using her private email address to conduct official State Department business while she was serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Earlier this month Clinton turned her email server over to the Justice Department; Al Jazeera subsequently learned the FBI was treating its inquiry into the email controversy as a potential criminal investigation.
Even if the email controversy does lasting harm to Clinton’s candidacy, Biden may have difficulty finding traction with sections of the Democratic electorate. As a United States senator, he was an unrepentant drug warrior, working to pass mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and funding legislation that helped police departments buy military equipment.
That record may leave Biden out of step with the overall mood of the Democratic base. Black Lives Matters protesters have been working to make police reform a central issue in the campaign, and the current Democratic candidates have largely responded by unveiling proposals intended to address those concerns.
Warren supporters, including MoveOn.org head Ilya Sheyman, have also raised concerns to Politico regarding Biden's tenure in the Obama administration, which they feel has been too friendly to the financial sector. Biden also voted to authorize combat operations in Iraq in 2003. Clinton did the same as a New York senator, something which hindered her 2008 presidential campaign during primary season.
CNN reported Tuesday that President Barack Obama has reportedly given his “blessing” to Biden’s potential 2016 run.
Additional reporting by David Shuster
Biden has not yet decided whether to jump into the race, according to sources, who add that staff who have spoken to Biden are “convinced” that he favors running. In the meantime, he has been carefully gauging the interest of Democratic donors, activists and party elites. Over the weekend he reportedly met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a powerful figure in the Senate and a popular figure among the party’s progressive activists.
The vice president and former senator of Delaware is also said to be consulting family members and loved ones who would be affected by his candidacy. The Biden family recently lost one of Joe Biden’s sons, 46-year-old Delaware politician Beau Biden, to a battle with brain cancer.
Hillary Clinton’s ongoing email troubles appear to be fueling the conviction among Biden supporters that he might have a serious chance in the presidential race. Clinton has come under fire for using her private email address to conduct official State Department business while she was serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Earlier this month Clinton turned her email server over to the Justice Department; Al Jazeera subsequently learned the FBI was treating its inquiry into the email controversy as a potential criminal investigation.
Even if the email controversy does lasting harm to Clinton’s candidacy, Biden may have difficulty finding traction with sections of the Democratic electorate. As a United States senator, he was an unrepentant drug warrior, working to pass mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and funding legislation that helped police departments buy military equipment.
That record may leave Biden out of step with the overall mood of the Democratic base. Black Lives Matters protesters have been working to make police reform a central issue in the campaign, and the current Democratic candidates have largely responded by unveiling proposals intended to address those concerns.
Warren supporters, including MoveOn.org head Ilya Sheyman, have also raised concerns to Politico regarding Biden's tenure in the Obama administration, which they feel has been too friendly to the financial sector. Biden also voted to authorize combat operations in Iraq in 2003. Clinton did the same as a New York senator, something which hindered her 2008 presidential campaign during primary season.
CNN reported Tuesday that President Barack Obama has reportedly given his “blessing” to Biden’s potential 2016 run.
Additional reporting by David Shuster
Biden has not yet decided whether to jump into the race, according to sources, who add that staff who have spoken to Biden are “convinced” that he favors running. In the meantime, he has been carefully gauging the interest of Democratic donors, activists and party elites. Over the weekend he reportedly met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a powerful figure in the Senate and a popular figure among the party’s progressive activists.
The vice president and former senator of Delaware is also said to be consulting family members and loved ones who would be affected by his candidacy. The Biden family recently lost one of Joe Biden’s sons, 46-year-old Delaware politician Beau Biden, to a battle with brain cancer.
Hillary Clinton’s ongoing email troubles appear to be fueling the conviction among Biden supporters that he might have a serious chance in the presidential race. Clinton has come under fire for using her private email address to conduct official State Department business while she was serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Earlier this month Clinton turned her email server over to the Justice Department; Al Jazeera subsequently learned the FBI was treating its inquiry into the email controversy as a potential criminal investigation.
Even if the email controversy does lasting harm to Clinton’s candidacy, Biden may have difficulty finding traction with sections of the Democratic electorate. As a United States senator, he was an unrepentant drug warrior, working to pass mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and funding legislation that helped police departments buy military equipment.
That record may leave Biden out of step with the overall mood of the Democratic base. Black Lives Matters protesters have been working to make police reform a central issue in the campaign, and the current Democratic candidates have largely responded by unveiling proposals intended to address those concerns.
Warren supporters, including MoveOn.org head Ilya Sheyman, have also raised concerns to Politico regarding Biden's tenure in the Obama administration, which they feel has been too friendly to the financial sector. Biden also voted to authorize combat operations in Iraq in 2003. Clinton did the same as a New York senator, something which hindered her 2008 presidential campaign during primary season.
CNN reported Tuesday that President Barack Obama has reportedly given his “blessing” to Biden’s potential 2016 run.
Additional reporting by David Shuster
Biden has not yet decided whether to jump into the race, according to sources, who add that staff who have spoken to Biden are “convinced” that he favors running. In the meantime, he has been carefully gauging the interest of Democratic donors, activists and party elites. Over the weekend he reportedly met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a powerful figure in the Senate and a popular figure among the party’s progressive activists.
The vice president and former senator of Delaware is also said to be consulting family members and loved ones who would be affected by his candidacy. The Biden family recently lost one of Joe Biden’s sons, 46-year-old Delaware politician Beau Biden, to a battle with brain cancer.
Hillary Clinton’s ongoing email troubles appear to be fueling the conviction among Biden supporters that he might have a serious chance in the presidential race. Clinton has come under fire for using her private email address to conduct official State Department business while she was serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Earlier this month Clinton turned her email server over to the Justice Department; Al Jazeera subsequently learned the FBI was treating its inquiry into the email controversy as a potential criminal investigation.
Even if the email controversy does lasting harm to Clinton’s candidacy, Biden may have difficulty finding traction with sections of the Democratic electorate. As a United States senator, he was an unrepentant drug warrior, working to pass mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and funding legislation that helped police departments buy military equipment.
That record may leave Biden out of step with the overall mood of the Democratic base. Black Lives Matters protesters have been working to make police reform a central issue in the campaign, and the current Democratic candidates have largely responded by unveiling proposals intended to address those concerns.
Warren supporters, including MoveOn.org head Ilya Sheyman, have also raised concerns to Politico regarding Biden's tenure in the Obama administration, which they feel has been too friendly to the financial sector. Biden also voted to authorize combat operations in Iraq in 2003. Clinton did the same as a New York senator, something which hindered her 2008 presidential campaign during primary season.
CNN reported Tuesday that President Barack Obama has reportedly given his “blessing” to Biden’s potential 2016 run.
Additional reporting by David Shuster
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