VP Biden: I Don’t Think Beau Wants to Run for Senate

[jefferson_dem]

VP Biden: I Don’t Think Beau Wants to Run for Senate
January 24, 2010 11:24 AM

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MoreABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

In an interview with a columnist in his home state of Delaware, Vice President Joe Biden confirms what many Democrats have been buzzing about for weeks: Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden does not want to run for his father’s old Senate seat.

At the end of a wide-ranging conversation with the Delaware News Journal’s Harry F. Themal, the vice president brought up the race to fill his Senate seat.

Here’s the exchange, as recounted by Themal:

Biden: "If you run into Beau, talk him into running; he respects you."

Themal: "I don't think he wants to run, though."

Biden: "I don't think he does either. I know he doesn't want to. ... I'm so proud of the job he's done ."

Themal: "Would you campaign for him ?"

Biden: "Hell, yes. I told him I'd give him my sixth-born grandchild."

If Beau Biden takes a pass, it would strike a major blow to Democratic efforts to hold on to the blue-state Senate seat.

Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., is mounting a strong challenge for the seat, which is now held by Sen. Ted Kaufman, D-Del., a former Biden aide who filled the seat with the understanding that he would not run for a full term.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/01/vp-biden-i-dont-think-beau-wants-to-run-for-senate.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Captain Hilts]

1. Castle can be beaten because of his age. nt

[treestar]

2. Castle should retire

He's an egomaniac though, and would like to be called "Senator" no doubt.

Supposedly he is moderate. Yet in the House he has not gone out of Repuke lockstep.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Beau's been thru hell in his life...

Not including his mother's tragic loss in 1972, he's had to operate under the shadow such a forcefull Father and has spent time in Iraq, to boot.

I wish all the best to the Biden kids, from your 2nd cousin, once-removed.;)

[Bumblebee]

4. Good decision. Not a great climate for "dynasties."

Hope they find a very strong and effective Dem candidate

[Imajika]

5. Exactly..

This would be a bad year it.

[CBR]

6. The only other candidate I have heard mentioned is New Castle

County Executive Chris Coons. I really like him but in this environment I can see the lower two counties in the state voting strongly against the Dem machine in New Castle County -- especially for Mike Castle. I will volunteer alot for the Dem candidate regardless.

[AngryAmish]

10. bingo

[ShortnFiery]

22. +1 ... Beau is one thoughtful and intelligent man. A credit to his Dad.

:thumbsup:

[burning rain]

7. Doesn't want to endure the embarrassment of being defeated by Castle in a bad year for Dems?

That would be understandable. Besides an embarrassment, it would be a career setback, a strike against him in being considered for future office.

[KingFlorez]

8. He'd actually be Castle's strongest opponent

I hardly think he's not running because he's afraid of Castle.

[burning rain]

12. It was earlier considered a given that he was going to run.

That was the whole point in appointing Kaufman with the proviso he wouldn't run for a full term in 2010--so Beau Biden could run for the open seat.

[KingFlorez]

17. Beau Biden never committed to the race

And it doesn't look like he's giving an answer just yet. It's wishful thinking to believe that Castle is so formidable that no one wants to run against him.

[burning rain]

19. I never said Beau Biden *had* committed to the race.

I did assert, correctly, that the whole point of having Kaufman as a placeholder who wouldn't stand for a full term in 2010, was to have the seat open for Beau. And, there's no reason for Beau to be dilly-dallying if he is going to run, with a formidable Republican opponent in the race. Other candidates are running energetically in other states. In addition, 538, hardly a polling outfit hostile to Democrats, rates Mike Castle as the favorite in a race against Beau Biden.

[KingFlorez]

20. My point is, Castle is not a complete shoe in

If the right Democrat gets in, it's a competitive race.

[Jennicut]

9. I think he could beat Castle.

Blumenthal in CT can beat any of the Rethug candidates.
Perhaps he doesn't want to run because he just spent a whole year away from his family while in Iraq.

[burning rain]

14. Mike Castle's a very well-liked congressman.

Not really comparable to the likely Republican Senate candidates in Connecticut. I almost never buy that "wanna spend time with the family" stuff, and especially not here where Biden's candidacy was earlier considered a given. I doubt it looks attractive, even to a Biden in Delaware, to seek a Senate seat against a longtime popular Republican congressman, in what looks to be a year that voters will punish Democrats for the failure of congressional Dems.

[jillan]

21. That's a really good point Jennicut...Beau just might want to take a break.

[burning rain]

23. M'yeah. If Beau Biden were ahead in the polls, I'm sure he'd bow out.

Uh huh.

[ccharles000]

11. this sucks

[ProSense]

13. Beau Biden hasn't ruled out running. Transcript clarifies conversation

Panic among Democrats set in quickly because Beau Biden's decision whether to run for Senate will be interpreted as a signal of whether the White House thinks that the tough political environment can be overcome by stellar candidates. But a transcript provided by the VP's office makes it clear that Biden was talking about current senator Ted Kauffman.

VP to Harry Themal: Always a pleasure of seeing you buddy. Talk Ted into running, if Beau doesn't. Talk him into running - he respects you. I wish I had the power of appointing Senators. I'd appoint him from Maryland if he wouldn't do Delaware.

Harry Themal: "I don't think he wants to run, though."

VP: No I don't think he does either. I know he doesn't. I'm so proud of the job he's done. God.

Harry: Would you campaign for him?

VP: Oh hell yeah, man. I tell you what - I was joking if Beau didn't run - I told him I'd give him my 6th-born grandchild. And you know, he said 'I have enough of those.' Alright, buddy, thanks. (Call ends).

Note that Biden says he told Kauffman that "if Beau didn't run" he'd give Kauffman his 6th born grandchild. If Biden had been referring to his son, he would be telling his son that he would give his son his own son. Makes no sense. Clearly, Beau Biden hasn't decided to run yet. But the VP isn't tipping his hand in this interview.

link

[burning rain]

16. Looks like it's time for congressional Dems to start making a solid record.

Hopefully there's still time for them to recover before they sink their chances at recruiting good candidates for 2010, but the window will soon close.

[gateley]

26. I was thinking the same thing -- if Beau doesn't run that the Dem machine

has to kick ass getting a Dem candidate ready and running so we don't see a MA repeat. Can't snooze on this one.

I hope Beau makes the best decision for him and his family -- he deserves to put himself first. And I know Joe will support whatever decision he makes, although no doubt he'd be mighty proud if Beau took the Senate seat.

[karynnj]

18. I actually took the grandson comment directed towards Beau as a joke

- a variation of wanting something so much that you offer a first born son. I don't know who the Biden grand kids "belong" to - but though this was an attempt to be funny offering Beau his own kid - thus sixth ratehr than first.

But, I guess we will see.

[gateley]

25. That's how I read it, too. nt

[timeforpeace]

15. In this climate a victory is anything but certain.

[Cha]

24. Dynasty Schmynasty;..

If someone is the best for the job then so be it..but, it looks like Beau isn't feeling it.