Delaware Senator Joe Biden Unofficially Declares 2008 Presidential Bid

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Dec 9, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Delaware Senator Joe Biden Unofficially Declares 2008 Presidential Bid Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 9, 2004

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — It’s apparently never too early to declare you’re running for the presidency. Delaware Senator Joe Biden unofficially declared on Wednesday that he’s running for president in 2008. Sort of.

In an interview with Don Imus on MSNBC’s Imus in the Morning, the radio personality asked Biden, "Are you going to run this time?"

"Well, I’m going to proceed as if I’m going to run," Biden said.

Biden, who backs abortion, said he would make the "hard" decision in two years based on whether or not the previous presidential candidate thinks he is young enough and can run a campaign that has a shot at going the distance.

However, Biden indicated he’s not taking the decision lightly.

"I don’t want to do this for the exercise," he said. "I’m pretty certain about what I think needs to be done. I’m not sure the country’s where I am. They may not think what I think needs to be done should be done."

However, in an interview with USA Today, a Biden spokesman played down his boss’ remarks.

"Of course he’d like to be president. Who wouldn’t?" Biden spokesman Norm Kurz said, pointing out that half of the members of the Senate are named as possible presidential candidates. "Did he announce his candidacy today? I don’t think so."

Biden was a presidential contender in the two years leading up to the 1998 presidential elections. He dropped out after news reports revealed he plagiarized a speech and Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis eventually landed the Democratic nod.

With President Bush beginning his second and final term, the presidency will be up for grabs in 2008 and both Democrats and Republicans will be jockeying for position as the top contender for their party’s nomination.

Democrats such as John Kerry, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton, and Republicans like Chuck Hagel, John McCain, Rick Santorum, and Bill Frist are already making plans to attend political events in Iowa and New Hampshire and to meet with party leaders.