Although many commentators — and the Republican Party’s leadership — believe that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic Party’s nominee, I’m not so sure. The ultimate proof? Look no further:
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his associates have begun to actively explore a possible presidential campaign, which would upend the Democratic field and deliver a direct threat to Hillary Rodham Clinton, several people who have spoken to Mr. Biden or his closest advisers say.
Biden and his buddies have started talking to Democratic leaders and donors because the latter are worried by Clinton’s “increasingly visible vulnerabilities as a candidate.” Biden was supposedly also influenced by the death of his son, Beau, who passionately wanted him to run. The vice president wouldn’t even consider doing so, however, if he believed this one was Hillary’s for the taking.
And that’s not at all. Polling also shows that Bernie Sanders — the outspoken socialist — is making some headway. Crowds are swelling at his gatherings; not because he’s such an inspiring figure, but because there are a lot of Democrats who simply don’t want to support Hillary. Although Joe Biden is quite an extraordinary gaffe-machine, he’s to be taken much more seriously than Sanders. After all, in contrast to the senator from Vermont, Biden has connections, a strong organization and a power base.
The result is that Democrats who are only interested in winning are slowly but surely warming up to a Biden campaign:
“It’s not that we dislike Hillary, it’s that we want to win the White House,” said Richard A. Harpootlian, a lawyer and Democratic donor in Columbia, S.C., who met with Mr. Ricchetti before Beau Biden died. “We have a better chance of doing that with somebody who is not going to have all the distractions of a Clinton campaign.”
Hillary is the frontrunner because her nomination is deemed inevitable. Once that notion is shattered, her poll numbers will undoubtedly fall — and fast.
Oh, and before you say anything: yes, I’m looking forward to a new Biden campaign. Just watch the video on the next page and you will too…
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