Something to Think About: Joe Biden’s (In)decision

After months of Bush-Clinton rivalries, noisy debates and Trump being Trump, it’s hard to imagine any more big players entering the 2016 stage. But many on the left (myself included) are holding out hope for the unimaginable.

Since the summer, there has been rampant speculation about a potential Biden run. And every time there has been the hint of a possible decision, we have been disappointed.

Time is running out for Biden, however, and according to Politico, he will be announcing his decision once and for all in the next two days.

Which is a source of both excitement and apprehension for Biden supporters. And me.

And there are more of us than you might think.

Often, people are turned off from Biden because of his famous gaffes and awkward behavior, but there are so many more reasons as to why he should be strongly considered as a candidate for president. Here are five:

1. He is not Hillary Clinton. Joe Biden is a well-known politician with experience in Washington, but he doesn’t have the air of detachment that Clinton does. He also doesn’t have Hillary’s “questionable” record, which turns away a lot of voters.

2. He is not Bernie Sanders. While Biden lands a bit left of center, he is nowhere near Bernie in terms of liberal policy. This may or may not help him in states dominated by Sanders during the primary, but it will definitely go a long way in the general. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: we are a nation of moderates.

3. He’s the veep. As Vice President to Barack Obama, it is logical that Joe Biden is the most likely to follow his policies. For some, this may actually be a downside to Biden, but for many left-centered liberals wishing for a third Obama term, it is a definite plus.

4. He’s Average Joe. Biden is more relatable than either Clinton or Sanders (especially Clinton) and voters feel as though they see what they get with him. This is an important quality for a politician, especially in such a divisive era of politics. People feel like they can trust Joe.

5. He can do the job. If Biden were to run in this election, it would not be his first time. He has been preparing himself for this for a long time. He has also been very effective as VP and has the potential to bridge the partisan gridlock that we’ve seen in the past decade.

As for his “interesting” behavior, it seems very easy for people to forget all of the times that Biden has stepped up during Obama’s presidency, and even before. His debates against both Sarah Palin and Paul Ryan proved that he was knowledgeable about the issues and believed what he stood for.

I am still trying not to get my hopes up when it comes to a Biden campaign. Joe has often cited the death of his son Beau as both a reason to run and a reason not to.

At the end of the day, the decision is completely up to him.

But Joe Biden, if you’re reading this, please run for President.