Vice President Joe Biden has mostly likely sought President Obama’s advice about whether he should jump into the 2016 presidential contest, a White House spokesman said on Monday.
“I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the person who’s won the last two national presidential elections was consulted before the vice president made a decision about whether or not to participate in the next one,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday.
However, he said he is not privy to the details of any such conversations, Earnest said.
As to when Biden will decide, Earnest said his long career in government and his standing in the Democratic Party makes him “entitled to all the time he believes necessary to make that decision.”
Biden will reportedly decide within the next two weeks.
The two men usually dine together weekly, but Earnest said that if they keep that appointment this week, the White House likely will not disclose what they discuss afterwards.
If Biden does jump into the race, he would have to balance the responsibilities of serving as vice president with running a national campaign, Earnest acknowledged. But he wouldn’t speculate about what accommodations, if any, would have to be made to his vice presidential schedule.
Throughout his career “he has demonstrated a willingness to work overtime,” which is something he likely would have to do again if he runs, Earnest said.
