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Biden hears Labor Day cheers: 'Run, Joe, run' - CNNPolitics.com

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/07/politics/joe-biden-2016-labor-day/

Biden hears Labor Day cheers: 'Run, Joe, run' - CNNPolitics.com

Pittsburgh (CNN)Make no mistake about it. Joe Biden was definitely running.

He's not yet launched a bid for president, but Biden sent a well-timed
signal of exuberance and political vitality on Monday, leaving reporters
and Secret Service agents in his wake as he jogged through adoring crowds
on Labor Day in Pittsburgh.

The old Joe was back. And the crowd was cheering "Run, Joe, run!"

Beaming, and looking more joyful in public than at any time since the
tragic death of his son Beau in May, the 72-year-old's energetic trek
through streets lined with well wishers, who seemed delighted to see him,
did nothing to quell speculation that he may jump into the Democratic
presidential race.

And if his decision turns on his rapturous reception in the gritty Western
Pennsylvania city, which is a bulwark of organized labor, there will be
only one answer.

The question on everyone's lips was "Will Joe Run?"

"I am definitely going to run part of this parade, I feel like I am home
right now," Biden said, deflecting questions about whether he would indeed
jump into the race to challenge Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders for the
Democratic nomination.
[image: At a convention in 1972, Biden and his first wife, Neilia, and his
two sons take a photo with Delaware Gov.-elect Sherman W. Tribbitt and his
wife Jeanne. Neilia Biden died in a car accident a few months later, after
his first election to the Senate, along with their infant daughter,
Naomi.]<img
alt="At a convention in 1972, Biden and his first wife, Neilia, and his two
sons take a photo with Delaware Gov.-elect Sherman W. Tribbitt and his wife
Jeanne. Neilia Biden died in a car accident a few months later, after his
first election to the Senate, along with their infant daughter, Naomi."
class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102193206-15-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
[image: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden began his career in politics in 1972,
winning election to the Senate at the age of 29 (he was 30 when he took
office). The Delaware Democrat was reelected to the Senate six times,
including 2008, before becoming the 47th vice president of the United
States.]<img alt="U.S. Vice President Joe Biden began his career in
politics in 1972, winning election to the Senate at the age of 29 (he was
30 when he took office). The Delaware Democrat was reelected to the Senate
six times, including 2008, before becoming the 47th vice president of the
United States." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191757-01-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden is sworn in for his second term as vice president by Supreme
Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, with his wife, Jill, and son, Beau, by his
side, on January 21, 2013, in Washington.]<img alt="Biden is sworn in for
his second term as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor,
with his wife, Jill, and son, Beau, by his side, on January 21, 2013, in
Washington." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191803-03-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden presides over a ceremony in Baghdad to formally mark the end
of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq on September 1, 2010.]<img alt="Biden
presides over a ceremony in Baghdad to formally mark the end of the U.S.
combat mission in Iraq on September 1, 2010." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191806-04-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden and President-elect Barack Obama wave to the crowd at their
election night party at Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, 2008.]<img
alt="Biden and President-elect Barack Obama wave to the crowd at their
election night party at Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, 2008."
class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191809-05-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden speaks after being introduced as Obama's running mate
while campaigning together after the Democratic National Convention in
2008.]<img alt="Biden speaks after being introduced as Obama&#39;s
running mate while campaigning together after the Democratic National
Convention in 2008." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191811-06-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: From left, former Sen. John Edwards, Biden, Obama and Sen. Hillary
Clinton at a debate of Democratic presidential candidates on April 26,
2007, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.]<img alt="From left, former Sen. John
Edwards, Biden, Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton at a debate of Democratic
presidential candidates on April 26, 2007, in Orangeburg, South Carolina."
class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191816-07-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden releases his memoir, "Promises to Keep: On Life and
Politics," in 2007.]<img alt="Biden releases his memoir,
&quot;Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics,&quot; in 2007."
class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191816-08-joe-biden-restricted-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: As a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
Biden is interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press," concerning
the war in Iraq on August 14, 2005.]<img alt="As a ranking member of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden is interviewed on NBC&#39;s
&quot;Meet the Press,&quot; concerning the war in Iraq on August
14, 2005." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191819-09-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: While chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden
meets Afghan students during a visit to Kabul in 2002.]<img alt="While
chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden meets Afghan
students during a visit to Kabul in 2002." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191821-10-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden is welcomed back after undergoing surgery for an aneurysm in
1988.]<img alt="Biden is welcomed back after undergoing surgery for an
aneurysm in 1988." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102193055-11-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential
nomination in 1988. After three months he drops out, following reports of
plagiarism and false claims about his academic record.]<img alt="Biden
announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988.
After three months he drops out, following reports of plagiarism and false
claims about his academic record." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102193058-12-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: While on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden meets with Sen.
Frank Church, center, and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat after the signing
of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1979.]<img alt="While on the Senate
Judiciary Committee, Biden meets with Sen. Frank Church, center, and
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat after the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli
Peace Treaty in 1979." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102193104-13-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: President Jimmy Carter and Biden attend a reception for the
Delaware Democratic Party in 1978. Biden was the first senator to endorse
Carter's presidential candidacy two years earlier.]<img alt="President
Jimmy Carter and Biden attend a reception for the Delaware Democratic Party
in 1978. Biden was the first senator to endorse Carter&#39;s
presidential candidacy two years earlier." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102193106-14-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: At a convention in 1972, Biden and his first wife, Neilia, and his
two sons take a photo with Delaware Gov.-elect Sherman W. Tribbitt and his
wife Jeanne. Neilia Biden died in a car accident a few months later, after
his first election to the Senate, along with their infant daughter, Naomi.]<img
alt="At a convention in 1972, Biden and his first wife, Neilia, and his two
sons take a photo with Delaware Gov.-elect Sherman W. Tribbitt and his wife
Jeanne. Neilia Biden died in a car accident a few months later, after his
first election to the Senate, along with their infant daughter, Naomi."
class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102193206-15-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden began his career in politics in 1972,
winning election to the Senate at the age of 29 (he was 30 when he took
office). The Delaware Democrat was reelected to the Senate six times,
including 2008, before becoming the 47th vice president of the United
States.]<img alt="U.S. Vice President Joe Biden began his career in
politics in 1972, winning election to the Senate at the age of 29 (he was
30 when he took office). The Delaware Democrat was reelected to the Senate
six times, including 2008, before becoming the 47th vice president of the
United States." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191757-01-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden is sworn in for his second term as vice president by Supreme
Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, with his wife, Jill, and son, Beau, by his
side, on January 21, 2013, in Washington.]<img alt="Biden is sworn in
for his second term as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia
Sotomayor, with his wife, Jill, and son, Beau, by his side, on January 21,
2013, in Washington." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191803-03-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden presides over a ceremony in Baghdad to formally mark the end
of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq on September 1, 2010.]<img alt="Biden
presides over a ceremony in Baghdad to formally mark the end of the U.S.
combat mission in Iraq on September 1, 2010." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191806-04-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden and President-elect Barack Obama wave to the crowd at their
election night party at Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, 2008.]<img
alt="Biden and President-elect Barack Obama wave to the crowd at their
election night party at Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, 2008."
class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191809-05-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden speaks after being introduced as Obama's running mate
while campaigning together after the Democratic National Convention in
2008.]<img alt="Biden speaks after being introduced as
Obama&amp;#39;s running mate while campaigning together after the
Democratic National Convention in 2008." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191811-06-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: From left, former Sen. John Edwards, Biden, Obama and Sen. Hillary
Clinton at a debate of Democratic presidential candidates on April 26,
2007, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.]<img alt="From left, former Sen.
John Edwards, Biden, Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton at a debate of
Democratic presidential candidates on April 26, 2007, in Orangeburg, South
Carolina." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191816-07-joe-biden-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden
[image: Biden releases his memoir, "Promises to Keep: On Life and
Politics," in 2007.]<img alt="Biden releases his memoir,
&amp;quot;Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics,&amp;quot; in
2007." class="media__image" src="
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131102191816-08-joe-biden-restricted-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
">
14 photos: Photos: Vice President Joe Biden

When young local business owner Chris Fuget asked whether he would announce
a 2016 run, the Vice President reached into the crowd to shake his hand and
momentarily hesitated before answering: "I haven't made that decision yet."

Then, asked by a reporter what he made of the overwhelming reception on an
unseasonably warm morning, Biden answered: "It's hope."

Wearing a white polo shirt, and looking fit and trim, Biden repeatedly
flitted from side to side of the downtown streets clogged with union
workers, floats, and the thunderous brass of marching bands.

Earlier, seemingly liberated to be back in the state of his birth, Biden
offered a likely preview of the blue-collar message he would hammer out if
he does run in 2016 -- in a speech that attempted to co-opt some of the
anger marking the riotous political season.

"I am hot. I am mad, I am angry," Biden roared as he bemoaned the way
workers have been "clobbered" in recent years, and vowed to fight to ensure
a share for the middle class of the profits the rich have enjoyed from
rising productivity.

"Something is wrong, folks.... the level playing field doesn't exist."

"Why in God's name should a man or woman working in a steel mill making
$50,000 pay a higher rate than someone that makes tens of millions of
dollars a year on Wall Street? I mean, I am serious."

Still grieving after the death of his son from brain cancer, the Vice
President is torn over whether his family can bear the emotional toll of
what would be his third presidential campaign.

"If I can reach that conclusion that we can do it in a fashion that would
still make it viable, I would not hesitate to do it," Biden said last week
at a synagogue in Atlanta.

Rich Trumka, the President of the AFL-CIO, who controls a valuable
political endorsement for Democratic candidates introduced Biden as a
friend, a brother and "a great champion of working men and working women."

Leo Gerard, of the United Steelworkers Union meanwhile made the implicit
case that he was the true heir of the post-Great Recession era of job
creation under President Barack Obama.

"Joe Biden has been in the room, he has been the voice of working people in
that room."

Biden had been expected to make a decision by a self-proclaimed
end-of-summer deadline, but associates now say an announcement by October 1
is considered more likely.

Clinton still holds a commanding lead in the polls. But as talk of a
potential run grows, with Clinton unable to quell a controversy about the
private email server she used as secretary of state, Biden is seeing a
modest uptick in polling.

READ: Biden previews 2016 message while pondering run
<http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/04/politics/biden-political-message-2016-race/index.html>

And among the crowd in Pittsburgh there was disappointment that he did not
use the chance on Monday to formally declare a White House run.

"We thought today might have been the day," said Pittsburgh union worker
Jack Gaffrey.

Keith Turner, also from Pittsburgh, argued there was definitely space for
Biden even though Clinton and Sanders have been in the race for months.

"Bernie Sanders is too liberal and as far as Hillary is concerned, she has
too much baggage," said Turner.

In the latest poll of New Hampshire primary voters by NBC/Marist released
Sunday, Biden had support from 16 % of Democratic voters. That's half the
total of Clinton, who herself trailed front runner Sanders by 9 points. In
Iowa, Clinton saw her lead over Sanders decline by half and now leads him
by 37% to 20% with Biden at 20%.

The question Biden must ask, alongside the emotional equation triggered by
his son's death, is whether he has a true path to the nomination, with
Sanders picking up strong support from the left of the party and with
Clinton still popular.

"I think it is early enough for him to be sufficiently competitive,
especially because of the longevity of his popularity in Western
Pennsylvania," said Pittsburgh Councilman Dan Gilman.


Eric D. Schwerin
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com

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