For the Democrats the next four years will be all about figuring out who should run when their talisman President Barack Obama will be unable to lead the party from the front. Many have said that Hilary Clinton will run. She came close to winning the Democrat nomination four years ago and since being Secretary of State has really elevated her standing around the country more. She would attract women both Republican and Democrat (Republican women because they have been so turned off by the party the last four years), she would most likely be considered a moderate for the work she has done, she has shown great leadership qualities while in charge of the State Department she would keep the base the President has cultivated (youth, black men and women, Hispanics and independents) and she probably more than newcomer would be able to say to the public "I will unit Washington and move past partisan politics."
The only other person that would be able to say those words is current Vice President Joe Biden. The VP has done some amazing work while in office. He is continually on the front lines negotiating with the House majority to get the President's agenda done. When called upon he serves and there probably is not another person in DC that would be able to do what he has done for the President. However, should he run in 2016?
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The only other person that would be able to say those words is current Vice President Joe Biden. The VP has done some amazing work while in office. He is continually on the front lines negotiating with the House majority to get the President's agenda done. When called upon he serves and there probably is not another person in DC that would be able to do what he has done for the President. However, should he run in 2016?
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There is a lot working against, mainly his age. He will be 74 if he ran in 2016. A large portion of the population remembers Ronald Reagan during his last term and how his age effected his performance. He was able to get a lot done but that was towards the end of his Presidency not the beginning as it would be for Biden. It is the McCain situation all over again and unlike McCain, Biden would have to choose a worthy VP to boost his image. By all accounts Biden is a very healthy 70 year old, but the stress of the White House can turn even the healthiest sick and Biden's age would be a big question mark on whether he could handle the White House.
The counter argument to his age is that he has been doing it for 4 (will be 8) years what's another 4 more? That is true but do the people want to take the risk? Does the party want to support a man that will probably only be a 1 term President? The answer will probably be no.
Political parties in this country tend to go with a Presidential candidate that will be able to win reelection. There are a lot of advantages to having a President in office for 8 years rather than 4. The Democrats will want a candidate able to run for reelection in 2020.
So while I think Joe Biden would love to run for President in 2016 I think his time has passed. He had a shot in 2008 against Obama and Clinton and unfortunately he lost. But he has had a great carrier and probably done more as the President's VP than in Congress. But it is time to let the youth take the torch of the party because the Republicans will be revamped in 2016 with youthful candidates that the Democrats will have to figure out how to contend with.
Further Reading:
-http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/no-joke-joe-biden-makes-2016-moves-86600.html?hp=t2_3
The counter argument to his age is that he has been doing it for 4 (will be 8) years what's another 4 more? That is true but do the people want to take the risk? Does the party want to support a man that will probably only be a 1 term President? The answer will probably be no.
Political parties in this country tend to go with a Presidential candidate that will be able to win reelection. There are a lot of advantages to having a President in office for 8 years rather than 4. The Democrats will want a candidate able to run for reelection in 2020.
So while I think Joe Biden would love to run for President in 2016 I think his time has passed. He had a shot in 2008 against Obama and Clinton and unfortunately he lost. But he has had a great carrier and probably done more as the President's VP than in Congress. But it is time to let the youth take the torch of the party because the Republicans will be revamped in 2016 with youthful candidates that the Democrats will have to figure out how to contend with.
Further Reading:
-http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/no-joke-joe-biden-makes-2016-moves-86600.html?hp=t2_3