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Republicans praise Biden as chair says decision 'improves our chances' in 2016 Republicans praise Biden as chair says decision 'improves our chances' in 2016
(about 21 hours later)
Republicans greeted the announcement that vice-president Joe Biden would not mount his third bid for the presidency with a mix of heartfelt tributes to a man who has spent over 40 years in public service leavened with some trolling of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Republicans greeted the announcement that Vice-President Joe Biden would not mount his third bid for the presidency with a mix of heartfelt tributes to a man who has spent over 40 years in public service leavened with some trolling of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
Biden’s announcement at a hastily organized press conference in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday ended months of speculation about whether the vice-president would throw his hat into the ring.Biden’s announcement at a hastily organized press conference in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday ended months of speculation about whether the vice-president would throw his hat into the ring.
On Capitol Hill, longtime colleagues of Biden – who served 35 years in the Senate, representing Delaware from 1973-2009 – paid tribute to his career. North Carolina Republican Richard Burr told the Guardian: “Joe Biden is 72. He had a distinguished career here and a distinguished career as vice-president. I am just happy for him now that he has a chapter in his life that doesn’t have to do with public service.” On Capitol Hill, longtime colleagues of Biden – who served 35 years in the Senate, representing Delaware from 1973 to 2009 – paid tribute to his career. North Carolina Republican Richard Burr told the Guardian: “Joe Biden is 72. He had a distinguished career here and a distinguished career as vice-president. I am just happy for him now that he has a chapter in his life that doesn’t have to do with public service.”
He was echoed by Arizona senator John McCain, who ran for president against Barack Obama in 2008 and said of Biden: “I respect his decision and I understand it.”He was echoed by Arizona senator John McCain, who ran for president against Barack Obama in 2008 and said of Biden: “I respect his decision and I understand it.”
Some outside Republican groups shared this sentiment. In a statement from American Crossroads, the major Republican Super Pac associated with Karl Rove, the group’s president, Steven Law, said: “Joe Biden is a well-liked, decent public servant, and I applaud him for basing his decision on the best of reasons: his family. Our publicly expressed view has been that the Vice President would have been a tough opponent in a general election. And while we don’t agree with him on a lot of issues, we wish him and his family well as they continue to come to terms with the loss of their son.” Some outside Republican groups shared this sentiment. In a statement from American Crossroads, the major Republican Super Pac associated with Karl Rove, the group’s president, Steven Law, said: “Joe Biden is a well-liked, decent public servant, and I applaud him for basing his decision on the best of reasons: his family. Our publicly expressed view has been that the vice-president would have been a tough opponent in a general election. And while we don’t agree with him on a lot of issues, we wish him and his family well as they continue to come to terms with the loss of their son.”
However, other conservatives used the opportunity to go after Hillary Clinton, the leading Democratic candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination. In a statement, Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus said: “The vice-president’s decision not to enter the 2016 race is a major blow for Democrats, who now will almost certainly be saddled with their unpopular and scandal plagued front-runner Hillary Clinton.” He added: “Vice President 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 of taking back the White House.” However, other conservatives used the opportunity to go after Hillary Clinton, the leading Democratic candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination. In a statement, the Republican National Committee chair, Reince Priebus, said: “The vice-president’s decision not to enter the 2016 race is a major blow for Democrats, who now will almost certainly be saddled with their unpopular and scandal plagued frontrunner Hillary Clinton.” He added: “Vice-President 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 of taking back the White House.”
The contrast shows the challenge Biden would have faced had he mounted a run for the White House. Before considering a run for the presidency against Clinton, the vice-president had long been a subject of mockery among some Republicans campaigning this year. A frequent joke by Ted Cruz on the campaign trail was once: “Joe Biden … You know what the nice thing is? You don’t even need a punch line. I promise you it works. At the next party you’re at, just walk up to someone and say, ‘Vice-president Joe Biden’, and just close your mouth. They will crack up laughing.” The contrast shows the challenge Biden would have faced had he mounted a run for the White House. Before considering a run for the presidency against Clinton, the vice-president had long been a subject of mockery among some Republicans campaigning this year. A frequent joke by Ted Cruz on the campaign trail was once: “Joe Biden … You know what the nice thing is? You don’t even need a punchline. I promise you it works. At the next party you’re at, just walk up to someone and say, ‘Vice-President Joe Biden’, and just close your mouth. They will crack up laughing.”
However, Biden was in recent weeks beginning to be built up by Republicans as a potential rival to Clinton – one who, at the very least, could cause damage to a candidate once thought to be the inevitable Democratic nominee. Indeed, Republicans have recently embraced the merits of Bernie Sanders.However, Biden was in recent weeks beginning to be built up by Republicans as a potential rival to Clinton – one who, at the very least, could cause damage to a candidate once thought to be the inevitable Democratic nominee. Indeed, Republicans have recently embraced the merits of Bernie Sanders.
The newfound respect from Biden’s peers would have likely evaporated had he become a candidate – he would quickly have become just another partisan figure rather than a quirky and increasingly beloved elder statesman. Now, though, Biden will continue full-time in the Obama administration for the next year and a half with a focus, as he said on Wednesday, on fighting for “a national commitment to end cancer as we know it today”. The newfound respect from Biden’s peers would have probably evaporated had he become a candidate – he would quickly have become just another partisan figure rather than a quirky and increasingly beloved elder statesman. Now, though, Biden will continue full-time in the Obama administration for the next year and a half with a focus, as he said on Wednesday, on fighting for “a national commitment to end cancer as we know it today”.
Biden may not ever become president, but, as the reaction Wednesday showed, he’ll likely never be a punchline again either. Biden may not ever become president, but, as the reaction on Wednesday showed, he’ll probably never be a punchline again either.