Dems line up to praise Biden
female lawmakers in Congress, sent out expressions of admiration for the vice president.
Even some of Clinton’s Republican challengers quipped that the move is decisive in clearing her path for the Democratic nomination. Republican Ben Carson said, “It pretty much guarantees Hillary is who we will run against.”
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus described Biden’s decision not to enter the race as “a major blow for Democrats.’’
Biden “was the most formidable general election candidate the Democrat Party could have fielded, and his decision not to challenge Hillary Clinton greatly improves our chances,’’ he said.
Top Democrats focused their reactions on saluting Biden’s career.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi took to Twitter to say, “Biden is an all-American patriot and a middle-class warrior!’’
California Sen. Barbara Boxer suggested last week that Biden should not challenge Clinton after the former secretary of State’s skillful performance at the Democratic debate in Las Vegas. Boxer was among the first members of Congress to praise Biden after his decision to sit out the 2016 race.
“I know this decision was a very difficult one for him, and I am so glad he will continue speaking out strongly about the importance of building on the success of this administration,’’ Boxer said.
Biden made his announcement a day before Clinton was to testify before a House committee investigating the terrorist attacks in 2012 in Benghazi, Libya. It could be a critical moment in her campaign.
Biden said he concluded that time had run out to mount a credible bid. National polls show Clinton remains the strong favorite, holding at least a 20-point lead over Sanders in many polls. She’s erased Sanders’ advantage in the one state where he led her, according to a new survey out of New Hampshire.
Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, said on Fox News that Biden “had no money. He had no fundraising. He had no political operation.”
Biden made clear he was not declining a run to clear a path for Clinton.
In addition to expressing his plan to remain engaged in the political process, Biden appeared to jab at Clinton for comments she made at the debate last week about Republicans being her enemies.
“I don’t think we should look at Republicans as our enemies. They are our opposition. They’re not our enemies,” he said.
Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, said any bitterness between Biden and his supporters and the Clinton campaign is unlikely to linger. On Twitter, Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said Clinton called Biden after his announcement.
“I don’t think Joe will keep it up, if it was his intention,’’ Rendell said on MSNBC. “He knows that Hillary Clinton’s going to be the nominee’’ and “preserve the Obama-Biden legacy.”
There was just no political space for the vice president to get in, he said.
“I’m not sure he had the heart for what essentially had to become a very personal campaign,” Rendell said.
Biden’s “decision not to challenge Hillary Clinton greatly improves our chances.” Reince Priebus, Republican National Committee chairman