Biden-Clinton 2016 'Faceoff' Is Possible: Bill Richardson

WASHINGTON -- Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said Sunday that Democrats may see a 2016 "faceoff" between Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden, noting that Biden has "always wanted to be president."

"I was with him Friday morning," Richardson said of his friend on ABC's "This Week." "I think he would run. Hillary Clinton would be formidable, no question about it, but I’ve known Biden over the years. He is somebody who's always wanted to be president. He’s got the eye of the tiger."

Biden hasn't done much to dispel speculation that he's pondering a presidential run in 2016. "It’s no secret that he’s thinking about this," his son, Beau Biden, recently told The New York Times. "I’m glad he’s thinking about this. But he hasn't made up his mind."

Clinton has said that her days of running for office are over. But if she chose to throw her hat in the ring for 2016, the former secretary of state and 2008 presidential candidate would likely be a clear front-runner in the Democratic field, even ahead of the incumbent vice president.

"Secretary Clinton is a formidable candidate," Richardson noted, "who not only is appealing to the Democratic base, but is appealing to a Republican base that acknowledges the great work she did."

Clinton boosters have already launched a Ready For Hillary PAC, which has the backing of Democratic strategist and Clinton pal James Carville. Speaking on "This Week" on Sunday, Carville argued that American politics hasn't seen as strong a front-runner in generations.

"There has never been a front-runner, a non-incumbent front-runner, like her since probably Eisenhower," Carville said.