Would Clinton tap Biden for secretary of State? Sources say yes.
A source close to the Clinton campaign tells Politico that the Democratic presidential nominee is considering tapping the current vice president for the nation's top diplomatic role.
A source close to the Clinton campaign tells Politico that the Democratic presidential nominee is considering tapping the current vice president for the nation's top diplomatic role.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is considering tapping Vice President Joe Biden as secretary of State if she is elected, according to sources close to the campaign.
鈥淗e鈥檇 be great, and they are spending a lot of time figuring out the best way to try to persuade him to do it if she wins,鈥� the source told Politico.
NBC News later confirmed that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was considering Mr. Biden for the job. The Clinton campaign has not yet responded to these claims, but if appointed, acting as the US top diplomat would be another addition to Biden鈥檚 already impressive political r茅sum茅.
鈥淲hen Biden ran for president in 1988 and 2008, he fared poorly. After 36 years in the Senate, he seemed destined to be a lifer there,鈥� the 海角大神 Science Monitor鈥檚 Linda Feldmann wrote last year. 鈥淏ut when Barack Obama chose him for the ticket in 2008, Biden moved one step closer to the Oval Office, and earned widespread affection in the White House as 鈥楿ncle Joe.鈥� Famous for his exuberant style, and the occasional gaffe, Biden wins praise for his authenticity.鈥澛�
And according to the vice president鈥檚 wife, Joe Biden has been considered for the position of secretary of State before.聽
Jill Biden made news in 2009 on the Oprah Winfrey show, when she said that President Obama offered Biden the choice between vice president or secretary of State, and Biden chose vice president in order to be close to his family. The Obama-Biden campaign quickly dismissed these claims.
Biden again considered a presidential bid in 2016, but after many weeks of speculation, the vice president made a statement in the White House鈥檚 Rose Garden last October with Mr. Obama by his side. Because of his son Beau鈥檚 recent passing, Biden said he was not in the position to take on the role of commander-in-chief.
After his 鈥渦n-announcement,鈥� the Monitor鈥檚 Peter Grier suggested聽that by not running for president, Biden worked to unify the Democratic party.
鈥淏y not running, he has ensured that Democrats will be able to present a united front early in the presidential campaign. His un-announcement shows the qualities that could make him a formidable Clinton surrogate campaigner: passion, an empathy with the little guy, and an apparent authenticity that Clinton cannot match.鈥�
And thus far in the presidential race, Biden has served as a faithful supporter. Acting as a rigorous advocate for Hillary Clinton, he frequents the campaign trail to speak on her behalf. Biden has also already served the Clinton campaign in an international capacity, traveling to Latvia in August to reassure NATO allies of America鈥檚 partnership despite disparaging remarks by the Trump campaign.
鈥淚n Biden, Clinton would be tapping a seasoned hand on foreign policy, a glad-handing pol with a long memory and a well of deep relationships around the globe,鈥� suggests Politico. Other names have been discussed for the job, 鈥淏ut none of those picks would come with the star power that鈥檚 been a feature for all recent picks for the job, and which Biden would bring in buckets.鈥�