Too Much and Too Late for Biden

Official portrait of Vice President of the United States . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The race for the White House in 2016 has taken one wacky turn after another.  For the Republicans, the field is currently led by two men with no previous political experience, except maybe for funding other campaigns instead of their own.  It is still thought that one of the more experienced (and more conservative) candidates can rise above the rest of the field and take control.  That's not happening so far, even with the primaries a few months away.

For the Democrats, it's been Hillary Rodham Clinton from the very beginning.  Despite her well-known distractions, she holds a commanding lead over admitted 'democratic socialist' Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the polls, with one debate behind them.

So where does that leave Vice President Joe Biden, who many expected to enter the race just to give the former Secretary of State at least one roadblock to the Democratic nomination?  On the outside looking in, having announced on Wednesday that he's not running for the job currently held by his boss, President Barack Obama.

For the Vice President, it was a matter of too much and too late.  Too much to overcome the grief of losing son Beau to cancer last spring.  Too much of a head start by Clinton in terms of support, fund raising and rising poll numbers--even with Biden in the race.  Too much wasted time in making a decision to run before finally revealing his choice in late October.  Which turned out to be too late to mount a successful campaign, a fact even Biden realized.

All things considered, this is the most sensible decision the Vice President could make.  His legacy won't be tarnished in the campaign, and neither will President Obama's.  Both could wait to see how the primaries turn out before officially giving their blessing to Clinton or anyone else.  And they would be in a position to help unite the Democrats for the general election, even if it means needling the front-runner when necessary.

Vice President Joe Biden has had a long and successful career as a national political figure, whether serving as U.S. Senator from Delaware, two runs as a presidential candidate (1988 and 2008), and in his current position.  The one thing he wanted most of all, at the age of 72, was to be President of the United States.  Biden must have realized that, in his words, the window was closing.  But it's not too late for him to make a difference in the campaign.  At least he hopes not.