Joe Biden quietly positions himself for 2016 campaign

He’s been quiet yet affirmative when asked about 2016, but his actions speak louder than words. Apparently he’s the only Democratic contender who has visited all three early primary states so far in 2015. It is often said that with politicians, there are no coincidences when it comes to visiting Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina.

Report from The Atlantic:

There’s only one prominent Democratic contender who has traveled to all three early presidential primary states so far in 2015. It’s not Hillary Clinton. Nor is it Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, or even Martin O’Malley.

It’s Joe Biden, who may be running the most under-the-radar White House campaign of any sitting vice president in modern times. Biden made stops in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina last month. The appearances were all ostensibly aimed at promoting President Obama’s agenda, but as the old axiom goes, no politician visits any of these states by accident, and certainly not in the calendar year before primary voters head to the polls.

The 72-year-old, generally regarded as the nation’s well-meaning but goofy (and occasionally creepy) grandpa, Biden has long been considered an afterthought in the 2016 sweepstakes. The assumption: He’s not crazy enough to think he could take on Hillary, his good friend and former Cabinet-mate…is he?

To hear the vice president tell it, however, that’s exactly what he’ll be considering over the next several months. Unlike Clinton, Biden has never been coy about his interest in seeking the presidency for the third time since 1988. Asked by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in January whether he might challenge the former secretary of state, Biden replied, “Yes, there’s a chance.” He said he views the 2016 field as “wide open” on both sides and emphasized that he doesn’t need to make a decision on the race until late in the summer. Speaking in Iowa last month, Biden also notably embraced the idea—leveled as criticism by Republicans—that the Democratic nominee in 2016 would be running for Obama’s third term. “I call it sticking with what works,” the vice president declared.

Hillary’s recent stumbles in the media will absolutely have an impact on decisions such as this. Biden has a natural platform as Vice President, he has little reason not to run if he has any desire to seek the White House before age ends his quest. We’re already seeing Martin O’Malley come out and begin to look like another serious challenge to Hillary in recent days as well. The race on the Democratic side may finally be coming to life.