Former Vice President Joe Biden seems to be edging closer to announcing a possible 2020 presidential run.
Biden made the remarks at the University of Delaware while hosting presidential historian and author Jon Meacham to discuss Meacham’s book “The Soul of America: The Battle of Our Better Angels.”
Biden said he’s certain where his family stands, who he said want him to run. But he adds he is uneasy about taking his family through what he believes will be a very difficult campaign.
“And the general election, running against President (Donald) Trump, I don’t think he’s likely to stop at anything, whoever he runs against,” he said.
Biden said he also wants to make sure he has a reasonable chance of success.
“I can die a happy man never having lived in the White House," he said. "But what I don’t want to do is take people’s time, effort and commitment without there being a clear shot that I could be the nominee.”
He adds he will not be part of a super pac.
When a woman in the audience yelled “Oh God just say yes,” Biden told the audience he’s being straightforward. He’s very close to a decision, but he’s not there yet.
He and Meacham discussed the attributes of different presidents, without mentioning the current White House occupant by name. Biden said he thinks there’s a battle for the soul of America right now.
Meacham argues the most important presidential attributes are temperament and vision. He said he was inspired to write the book after the white nationalist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.
