Politics2016 electionDemocratic PrimaryJoe Biden

Jill Biden Says She Was Disappointed That Joe Didn't Run

"I believed he would have been the best president.”
Sam Stein
By 

Senior Politics Editor, HuffPost

Baz Ratner / Reuters

In an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" that debuted Sunday morning, Joe and Jill Biden offered their first explanation for why the vice president passed on a White House run.

“I came home and Hunter, our son, was upstairs with mom, with Jill. And I walked in and said, ‘You know, I just don’t think there is time.’ I just decided, I don’t think we can run the kind of campaign we have to run to be able to win,” the vice president said. “And I remember Jill just got up off the couch, gave me a big hug and said, I think you’re right.”

“I think I was disappointed,” Jill Biden added. ‘Like I said in the beginning, I thought Joe would be a great president. And I’ve seen, in the 40 years we’ve been together I’ve seen the strength of his character, his optimism, his hope… so I believed he would have been the best president.”

Jill Biden's testimonial puts to rest one of the lingering questions about Biden's Hamlet act over a presidential bid. His family (at least his wife) was on board.

As for his decision ultimately not to run, that did appear to be influenced by the proverbial door closing as he weighed the pros and cons.

During the first Democratic presidential debate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s strong performance reassured backers worried about her email scandal. Days later, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told The Huffington Post that he thought Biden should pass on a campaign run -- an announcement that reportedly hit a nerve in Biden’s universe, convincing advisers that the support and infrastructure wouldn’t be available should they launch a campaign.

Bernie Sanders
ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Joe Biden, a good friend, has made the decision that he feels is best for himself, his family and the country. I thank the vice president for a lifetime of public service and for all that he has done for our nation. I look forward to continuing to work with him to address the major crises we face. He understands the need to rebuild the middle class; and to address income and wealth inequality, a corrupt campaign finance system, climate change, racial justice, immigration reform and the need for publicly-funded higher education.”
Hillary Clinton
Martin O' Malley
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Vice President Joe Biden is a very good and decent man who has served our country nobly, and his experience would have been a welcome addition to the Democratic race. I will always admire his strength in the face of adversity and his passion for bettering our country. I respect Vice President Biden's decision today and wish the Vice President and his family well."
Donald Trump
Nancy Pelosi
Ben Cardin
Xavier Becerra
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Tim Ryan
Christopher Coons
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I respect and understand the Vice President's decision not to seek the Presidency. As always in his career, Joe Biden is putting his family first, and I am confident he will continue to add his important voice to our nation's ongoing debate about security in an uncertain world and opportunity for the middle class. I support his decision and look forward to continuing to work together."
Brendan Boyle
Harry Reid
ASSOCIATED PRESS
“I have known Joe Biden for decades and I know just the kind of person he is – a wonderful man dedicated to his family and to public service. Throughout his long and storied career, Joe has fought many battles. He has long been a strong advocate for the working men and women from Delaware to Nevada. As Senator, through his role on the Foreign Relations Committee, he was a leading voice on some of the toughest foreign policy issues of our time. On the Judiciary Committee, among his many achievements, he authored the landmark Violence Against Women Act, changing the way our communities responded to domestic violence. As Vice President, he has stood by President Obama’s side as we helped our economy and housing market recover, finally passed comprehensive health care reform and took on Wall Street. Joe is a dear friend of mine, he and I share a penchant for candor, and I look forward to working together during these next 15 months.”
Tom Carper
ASSOCIATED PRESS
“I know this was an extraordinarily difficult decision for the Biden family to make. I’ve known Joe for many years as we worked together to serve the people of Delaware and our country, and I know he has everything it takes to make a great president. He and his family have decided this is not the right time, and it’s my sincere hope that they are at peace with his decision. “In my conversations with Joe over the past several weeks, I encouraged him to listen to his family as they all continue to grieve the terrible loss of their beloved Beau. I know he heard from people across the country who urged him to run and offered to help, but the most important influences on his decision were his wife, Jill, their children and grandchildren, and God. “There are still 15 months left in the Obama Administration, and a full time vice president will go a long way toward getting important things done for the American people. When his time in the White House concludes, Joe will certainly have the opportunity to serve as our ambassador to the world, and I know he’ll continue making a positive difference in all our lives. I also know Beau’s memory and spirit will help him do it.”
Jennifer Granholm
Amy Klobuchar
Justin Amash
Meghan McCain
Piers Morgan
Gabrielle Giffords
Jim Messina
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