On Tuesday, the swearing-in ceremony for the new Senate took place and Vice President Joe Biden had to call the group to order twice. After the official swearing-in was over with, Senators brought their family members up to meet the VP and pose for photos. It was the last ceremony for Biden as VP, so there were a lot of photos taken, and Biden was at his most Biden-like.

Happening now: @VP Biden swears-in new Senators for the last time (a must-see Congressional tradition):: pic.twitter.com/JkRXt4BRiG

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 3, 2017

Biden was as funny as always and told the mother of Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, “When I die, I want to be reborn in Charleston.” Another senator’s mother took the opportunity to give Biden a bear hug.

Everyone is @ChuckGrassley‘s mom today. We’ll miss you Joe. pic.twitter.com/z7xS7kXVoE

— ClotureClub.com (@ClotureClub) January 3, 2017

For some members, the photo session took longer than for others. Democratic Senator Kamala Harris from California brought 15 family members who had traveled all the way from India, as well as a best friend from childhood and her mother’s BFF. “Aren’t you glad there’s not 435 senators?” Biden joked with the journalists and photographers.

“At least I wasn’t in high heels—although things are changing, man,” Biden says of the 5,500 pics he took at VPOTUS holiday parties.

— Phil Elliott (@Philip_Elliott) January 3, 2017

He blew kisses to Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth’s two-year-old daughter and tried to charm another baby, who was not as impressed.

Also this baby totally snubbed Biden pic.twitter.com/4lzdw2AIaB

— Sarah Parnass (@WordsOfSarah) January 3, 2017

After taking some photos with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Biden asked to have a photo with just the kids.

@VP Joe Biden kicks @marcorubio out of a photo op so he can take a picture with the Florida senator’s kids pic.twitter.com/AiKVSw7FSU

— POLITICO (@politico) January 3, 2017

Joe Biden will leave office later in January and told reporters that he won’t miss all the hullabaloo around official events like this. He has said that he knows what he will do next and will announce his plans soon. Many of us will miss him, and many hoped he would run for president in 2016. But maybe he’ll star in his own show instead:

Guys we need a kickstarter for a Joe Biden reality show that is just him doing this https://t.co/SS5jNmONx0

— rcohen (@rcohen) January 3, 2017

But Uncle Joe will probably make whatever decision is the best for him and his family and hopefully do a lot of good in a new role. “I’m going to try to take the VP office out of the office and establish a domestic and foreign policy piece where I can still do a lot of the stuff I care a lot about,” he said.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Residents of the Chevy Chase neighborhood in Washington D.C. have started decking out their houses with rainbow flags. Vice President-elect Mike Pence just began renting a house there, while waiting for the move to Number One Observatory Circle that he’ll make when Trump takes office in January. The flags are “a respectful message showing, in my case, my disagreement with some of his thinking,” said neighbor Ilse Heintzen to WJLA. She said that she has gay friends and that when one neighbor suggested hanging Pride flags on their houses, she joined in.

Residents on NW Washington Street where VP Elect Pence is renting a house are sending him a symbolic message. More residents may hang flags pic.twitter.com/fldYsMoP6i

— Suzanne Kennedy (@ABC7Suzanne) November 30, 2016

Pence has been criticized for his stance on LGBT rights, including his past support of conversion therapy. A wide range of influential groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, have denounced the practice. Over the weekend, Pence’s spokesman Marc Lotter denied that he ever was in favor of the practice. But a statement on his congressional campaign website from 2000 said that no federal funding should go to organizations that “celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus.” It said that “resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

In 2006, Pence supported a Constitutional amendment that would only recognize marriages between a man and a woman, and he said that same-sex marriage would lead to “societal collapse.” He was also in favor of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prohibited military members from serving if they were openly gay. And Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act when he was governor of Indiana, which essentially allowed businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.

Many Americans are worried that the new government could overturn the progress the LGBT community has made in recent years. But D.C. isn’t going down without a fight. According to local media there are about six flags up in the D.C. neighborhood, but more are on the way. “I have no idea what [the Vice-President Elect] will think about, but I hope he will change his mind,” said Heintzen. “This is one way that I can show my disagreement.”

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Rainbow Pride Flags Pop Up in Mike Pence’s New Neighborhood appeared first on Law Street.

Never has the United States seen a powerhouse debate quite like…Senator Tim Kaine and Mike Pence–two people that most of the United States don’t really care about.

But that’s kind of the point–a big part of tonight’s debate was trying to get to know the two VP candidates, who have thus far been overshadowed by their significantly more famous ticket-mates. So here were the five most defining moments of tonight’s debate:

No One Played Nice…From the First Question

From almost the first moment of the debate, Kaine and Pence went after each other. The two started squabbling early, beginning with disagreements over Hillary Clinton’s record, and the way that her campaign has been run. Pence said: “Well, let me say first and foremost that, Senator, you and Hillary Clinton would know a lot about an insult-driven campaign. It really is remarkable.”

Just a few minutes later, Kaine went hard against Trump over the tax return issue, pointing out that by not paying his federal taxes, he’s not supporting the military. Pence tried to brush it off, but Kaine got some punches in too.

Put simply: these two VP candidates brought the fire, and we finally started to see a hint of their unique personalities.

Pence Put his Foot in his Mouth on Racism and Implicit Bias

Pence tried to give a compassionate answer about police shootings in the United States, and claimed that implicit bias isn’t really something we should be caring about. He said:

Donald Trump and I both believe that there’s been far too much of this talk of institutional bias or racism in law enforcement.

For a lot of people, that kind of broad-brushed, and frankly pretty inaccurate, claim sat very poorly with a lot of people:

KAINE: there’s bias in the system

PENCE: what about when black cops shoot black people

this isn’t even a joke this just happened

— tc (@chillmage) October 5, 2016

Mike Pence has clearly never spent any time thinking about race. Like at all. #VPDebate

— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) October 5, 2016

Bringing up the race of a black officer to argue there isn’t “implicit bias” in policing shows you don’t know definition of “implicit bias”

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 5, 2016

Mike Pence Didn’t Talk that Much About Donald Trump

Mike Pence stayed away from talking a lot about his running mate, Donald Trump. Instead, Pence went on the offensive, going after Clinton and Kaine’s records, as well as President Barack Obama’s two terms in office.

That was probably a smart call. Mike Pence had a job to do tonight–look like the adult in the room. And by not trying to defend some of Trump’s more indefensible positions, he didn’t have to try to look like an adult purely at the expense of his running mate.

Tim Kaine Really Liked his Zingers…and the Tax Return Point

Whoever writes the one-liners and zingers for the Hillary Clinton campaign has perhaps been slacking a bit. Tim Kaine had some good jabs at Trump and Pence, but also had some that fell a little flat.

Kaine: “Donald Trump has a Mt Rushmore” of world dictators. Pence: “Did you work on that a long time?” Mocks Kaine zingers. #VPDebate

— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 5, 2016

No zingers are worse than zingers from old debates.

— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) October 5, 2016

But for as many zingers as Tim Kaine tried to put out there, he also make a lot of comments about Trump’s tax returns. He brought almost every point back to it–and don’t get me wrong, it’s a powerful slam against Trump. But Kaine brought it up perhaps a few times too many, to the point where it became almost ineffective.

A Faith Question for Both Candidates

Kaine is a Catholic who has worked with Jesuit missionaries in South America; Pence is an Evangelical Christian who has long been a social conservative. A conversation about their faith led to a discussion on abortion, and it became one of the most substantive exchanges of the two debates so far.

This year’s election has been in some cases more about personal attacks than about the real ideological divides between the Democrats and the Republicans. While Kaine and Pence didn’t manage to totally avoid personal questions, some substance did shine through in tonight’s debate, and it was a welcome change.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post The Five Most Defining Moments of the Kaine-Pence VP Debate appeared first on Law Street.

Hillary Clinton announced her running mate on Friday, going with a safe candidate who is seasoned with experience in almost every level of government and thankfully lacks a scandalous background. Despite the fact that Tim Kaine is a white, Catholic male and an insider to politics, he can do a few things that the average politician cannot: he officiates weddings, plays the harmonica, and speaks fluent Spanish.

Kaine started his political career as a city councilman in Richmond, Virginia, where he later served as mayor. He was elected Governor of Virginia in 2006, and became a senator in 2012. He also served as chairman of the Democratic National Convention during the first years of the Obama administration. He currently serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Armed Services Committee.

Kaine has been in politics for 22 years and knows a thing or two about elections, except for one thing: losing. Kaine has never lost an election during his tenure in government. Another fun fact about the next possible vice president? He is the first senator to give an entire speech on the Senate floor in a language other than English (he recited a speech entirely in Spanish in 2013).

Critics have called Kaine boring, but maybe that’s what Clinton needs to get her the presidency in November. On the big issues dominating this election, where does he stand?

Gun Control

Kaine has a personal connection with the push for stricter gun laws— he was the governor of Virginia when the Virginia Tech shooting happened, and at the time, it was the most deadly mass shooting in history. He described it as the worst day of his life:

That was the worst day of my life, and it will always be the worst day of my life — comforting the families of the victims, talking to the first responders who went into a classroom where bodies littered the floor and who heard in the pockets of deceased students and professors cell phones ringing as parents who had seen it on the news were calling their kids, just knowing they were at Virginia Tech to ask them if they were all right — calls that would never be answered.

Although a proponent of the second amendment and a gun owner himself, Kaine said he “supports common sense legislation,” and would like to see expanded background checks, restrictions on assault-style weapons, and expansion for mental health services, according to a statement on his website.

“Hillary and I will not rest…until we get universal background checks and close loopholes.” —@TimKaine on preventing gun violence

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 23, 2016

Women’s Reproductive Rights

Kaine is a pretty fervent Catholic, but when it comes to abortion rights, he believes it’s a personal matter, not a political one. He has an impressive 100 percent pro-choice voting record on abortion issues in the Senate, which garners respect from groups like Planned Parenthood and National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws.

Although Kaine does not personally agree with abortions, he said, “I deeply believe, and not just as a matter of politics, but even as a matter of morality, that matters about reproduction and intimacy and relationships and contraception are in the personal realm. They’re moral decisions for individuals to make for themselves. And the last thing we need is government intruding into those personal decisions.”

In August 2015 he voted against defunding Planned Parenthood, saying that for many women, “Planned Parenthood health centers are their only source of high quality health care.”

Planned Parenthood provides many critical, preventative services. Here’s just some #StandWithPP pic.twitter.com/TmPRd7GJ1X

— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) December 2, 2015

Education 

Kaine was critical of No Child Left Behind from the get-go. When he was governor of Virginia in 2006, he said the education act was “wreaking havoc on local school districts.” He has scathed NCLB for putting so much pressure and focus on standardized testing.

The new act that replaced NCLB in December 2015, Every Child Succeeds, has parts that Kaine wrote that focused on promoting career and technical education.

Authorization of Military Force

Kaine is the father of a Marine, so creating policy that recognizes that soldiers put their lives at risk in order to protect national security is important to him. That’s why he has pushed for the Obama administration to get re-authorization from Congress in order to fight terrorist groups like ISIS. In September 2014, Kaine called on President Obama to seek authorization on the Senate floor:

During a time of war, we ask our troops to give their best even to the point of sacrificing their own lives. When compared against that, how much of a sacrifice is it for a President to engage in a possibly contentious debate with Congress about whether military action is a good idea? How much of a sacrifice is it for a member of Congress to debate and vote about whether military action is a good idea? While Congressional members face the political costs of debate on military action, our service members bear the human costs of those decisions. And if we choose to avoid debate, avoid accountability, avoid a hard decision how can we demand that our military willingly sacrifice their very lives?

Inez Nicholson

Inez is an editorial intern at Law Street from Raleigh, NC. She will be a junior at North Carolina State University and is studying political science and communication media. When she’s not in the newsroom, you can find her in the weight room. Contact Inez at INicholson@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Before he extolled Hillary Clinton’s virtues and qualifications, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) ripped into Donald Trump. He presented the audience–gathered in the gymnasium of Northern Virginia Community College for a rally–with a three-part quiz: “Do you want a ‘you’re fired’ president, or a ‘you’re hired’ president?”; “Do you want a trash talking president, or a bridge building president?”; “Do you want a ‘me first’ president or a ‘kids and families first’ president?”

If the couple hundred strong audience’s reaction was any indication, the latter–clearly Clinton–was the unanimous choice. Thursday’s rally was an audition of sorts for Kaine, a presumed favorite as Clinton’s running mate. And perhaps as a response to those who fear he is too bland, too safe, too vanilla for the job, Kaine grew red in the face while animating his reservations about Trump and his reverence for Clinton.

“‘Ready for Hillary’ in Español is ‘estamos listos para Hillary,'” said Kaine, a fluent Spanish speaker who has spent time in Honduras as a minister. “The word ‘ready’ in Spanish is a little bit different than the word ‘ready’ in English…[In Honduras] the best compliment you could receive is to say that you are ‘listo’ because it means you’re well prepared, ready to get on the battlefield. You’re ready to fight.” At this, the crowd erupted in chants of “Hillary, Hillary.”

When it was Clinton’s turn to speak, Trump took a backseat to policy points (she still managed to land a few jabs: “this would be a good reality show, it’s just so serious”). The former secretary of state and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee evoked the popular play “Hamilton”–which, she said, she has seen three time–and the historical context it explores. America’s founding fathers “did not all agree,” she said. “They didn’t even all like each other. But here’s what they did–they worked together, and they set the most outrageous, unbelievable goal.” Their achievement, she said, was transforming disparate colonies “into a nation that could stand with the rest of the world.”

Thousands wait in over ninety degree heat. Most were turned away.

And with that, Clinton presented America’s choice as the most consequential of her lifetime, perhaps of the country’s lifetime: “We are asked whether we want to go forward into our future with confidence, optimism and hope, or whether we give in to bigotry and bluster and bullying.” She added: “Coal country, Indian country, inner city neighborhoods. I want us all to rise together.” But after the rally, on a small lawn outside the gymnasium, a scene emblematic of America’s current political gridlock unfolded.

“As illustrated recently by what happened over the email scandal, [the Clintons] have not been honest or law abiding citizens,” Laurie Kirby, who with her husband Ron braved over ninety degree heat and a staggering sun, told Law Street. The Kirbys stood with a giant American flag and signs opposing Clinton as “unlawful” and “untrustworthy.” As the soft-spoken couple shakily expressed their support for Trump (“I don’t necessarily agree with every statement that comes out of his mouth,” said Laurie), Clinton supporters streamed past, shaking their heads, shouting “stronger together!” and booing the couple.

A small circle began to form: the Kirbys conversed with a stocky, boisterous man in sunglasses, M.T. Two young women joined in. Both were turned away from the rally, they told Law Street, because the gym had reached capacity. “Our reservation apparently wasn’t good enough,” said A.D. (who declined to provide her full name), a first-generation Somalian, and a rising sophomore at Northern Virginia Community College. A.D. and her friend I.K. (who also requested only her initials be used) came as “moderates,” open to hear what Clinton had to say.

As they discussed the “false promises” of Bernie Sanders and the “elitism” of Clinton, a woman–decked in Clinton gear and clutching a “stronger together” sign–shouted at the Kirbys: “[Hillary] is not a liar” and “not crooked.” “I’m a Hillary supporter all the way, thank you,” she said, joining the circle chat. While the debate over Clinton’s character raged on, M.T. laughed. “It’s a very great conversation, it’s great dialogue,” he said. “Only in America!” He grew serious and shook his head as the tone around him grew testy, and personal attacks began to fly. “Just because you have different political views doesn’t mean people have to shame each other,” he said.

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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The Republican National Convention–during which Donald Trump will presumably go from “presumptive” Republican nominee to the Republican nominee–is just a few days away. In anticipation, Trump is releasing his VP pick tomorrow. Sources today are saying that Indiana Governor Mike Pence is going to be that pick.

Who is Mike Pence?

Pence was elected governor of Indiana in 2012. He previously represented Indiana’s 6th District in Congress for six terms. He began his career in politics as a talk radio host, focusing on politics.

Why would Trump pick Pence?

Trump’s candidacy has been anything but orthodox, and his VP pick has been hotly anticipated. But what does Trump stand to gain by picking Pence?

Rallying the Social Conservatives

Pence is, without a doubt, a staunch social conservative. Fellow Law Streeter Alex Simone wrote a takedown of Pence back when he signed an incredibly restrictive abortion bill–women called Pence to update him on their menstrual cycles to protest the legislation. He also has a lot of social conservative street cred when it comes to his opposition to LGBT rights and his Christian background. Given that some of Trump’s social conservative positions have been questioned, Pence’s background may be part of the attraction.

More Friends 

Pence’s resume will also likely come in handy. Trump has been certainly running against the establishment, and while a lot of Republicans–including current Speaker of the House Paul Ryan–have fallen in line, Pence’s many friends on the Hill could still be a good get. Pence spent 12 years in the House, and reportedly remains deeply respected there. Representative John Carter, a Republican from Texas, told the Hill:

I’d be dancing in the aisles. He’s one of the best we’ve ever had in Congress. I’d love to see Mike Pence be the guy. It’d be awesome.

Regional Balance

Pence is from the Rust Belt–an area that Trump may need to rely on if he hopes to win the presidency. As Ronald Brownstein of the Atlantic put it during a more nuanced look at Donald Trump’s need for Rust Belt voters:

Large Rust Belt prizes such as Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin would be indispensable for any Trump general-election bid because they offer him the best chance to tip states primarily by widening the GOP advantage among the blue-collar white voters who have keyed his advance in the Republican primaries.

A Different Public Presence

Trump’s unpredictability, passion, and willingness to piss anyone and everyone off have characterized his campaign. Pence, while described by some as a “firebrand,” is more of a practiced politician. He plays to his strengths–Adam Wren of Politico described him as having an “aw-shucks Hoosier persona.” That certainly stands in contrast to Trump’s New York accent and abrasive personality and could win more voters to Trump’s ticket.

So…is Trump/Pence set in stone?

Not quite. Trump isn’t set to announce his VP until tomorrow in New York. But according to “a Republican with direct knowledge of the decision,” it’s going to be Pence.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post It Looks Like Governor Mike Pence will be Trump’s VP Pick appeared first on Law Street.

Tim Kaine on Meet The Press

What does he do? Democratic Senator from Virginia.

What has he done? Mayor of Richmond, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

The argument for him: It’s difficult to think of an argument against Tim Kaine. Perhaps he’s not a hot young thing, but he’s got the perfect pedigree for the job, and his cautious style and strong resume help him fit the ideal Hillary mold–not a firebrand, but a policy wonk willing to show a little heart. He also has the benefit of already being vetted by Obama.

Likelihood? Since the beginning of “veepstakes” speculation, Tim Kaine has been a front-and-center choice. While he is most likely still the front runner, if Hillary is looking to add a “secret ingredient” to her campaign, she might look elsewhere.

Sean Simon

Sean Simon is an Editorial News Senior Fellow at Law Street, and a senior at The George Washington University, studying Communications and Psychology. In his spare time, he loves exploring D.C. restaurants, solving crossword puzzles, and watching sad foreign films. Contact Sean at SSimon@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Everybody’s got their ‘guy.’ He’s the first person to take your side when the going gets tough, and your intermediary with all the people you just don’t have time for. For Donald Trump, Ben Carson is that guy, and somehow, he’s the guy Trump trusts with his secrets. The trouble is, Carson might not be exercising the caution a campaign surrogate usually needs to.

Ben Carson was riding in a car with his wife Candy on his way to an interview, when the reporter who was along for the ride told him about a poll stacking up the favorability rankings of potential vice presidential picks. The reporter told Carson the names on the list, in order of favorability. After Ben Carson, who was seen as the most favorable vice presidential pick, the list included John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, and Chris Christie.

After stating that he was not interested in being a part of Donald Trump’s administration, Carson did what no nominee’s spokesperson should do: he told the press about the short list. When asked about those five names, Carson said “Those are all people on our list.”

The media will endlessly speculate about potential vice presidential nominees, but until the announcement is made, campaigns are usually tight-lipped about who their candidate is actually considering. Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential choices are under tight wraps, with pundits’ speculations spanning from Elizabeth Warren to John Kasich. Closely guarding the decision-making process keeps the campaign’s final selection exciting, and insures against a bombshell found during the vetting process.

Of course, Carson tried to walk back his statement, calling the Washington Post to explain. “When it comes to who could be the vice president and you name a list of people, I’m going to say yes to everybody, everybody could potentially be considered, doesn’t mean they are on the shortlist.” So when Ben Carson says “Those are all people on our list” that doesn’t mean they are actually on the list.”

The candidates mentioned in the poll do present a VP Vexing Problem–the candidates are either unknown to the public, or they are highly unfavorable, with ratings like Palin’s and Cruz’s around 50 percent unfavorable. Clinton’s camp has a different problem–their choices aren’t too strongly unfavorable, but most of them are unknown to the general public. Likely choices such as Tim Kaine, Sherrod Brown, and Julian Castro are unknown by 30 to 40 percent of voters. The good news for Clinton is that no one–not Huma, not Bill, not anyone–is dishing out her tightly-held list of candidates.

Sean Simon

Sean Simon is an Editorial News Senior Fellow at Law Street, and a senior at The George Washington University, studying Communications and Psychology. In his spare time, he loves exploring D.C. restaurants, solving crossword puzzles, and watching sad foreign films. Contact Sean at SSimon@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Ben Carson May Or May Not Have Leaked Trump’s VP List appeared first on Law Street.

Vice President Joe Biden shocked many, and validated the predictions of many others, when he announced he will not be seeking the Democratic nomination for President. Regardless of the emotion you’re experiencing–sadness, joy, or somewhere in between–Biden has officially answered a question that dragged on for a very long time. Check out some of the best and most entertaining Twitter reactions to Biden’s announcement in the slideshow below:

Remember the Hologram of will.i.am?

CNN now beta-testing a hologram of Biden to use in debates

— daveweigel (@daveweigel) October 21, 2015

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Top Twitter Reactions to Joe Biden’s Announcement He Won’t Be Running for President appeared first on Law Street.

Sources today are saying that Vice President Joe Biden is about to jump into the race for the Democratic nomination.

Fox News correspondent Ed Henry appears to have broken the story, and has had three separate sources confirm to him that Biden will be throwing his hat into the ring.

Three sources close to @VP telling me he's expected to announce he is running but the sources are all urging caution on 48-hr timeline

— Ed Henry (@edhenry) October 19, 2015

Henry was even more specific about a supposed date and time, tweeting:

The three sources say @vp telling supporters in calls planning to jump in race but not rushing — watch Sat Jefferson Jackson dinner iowa

— Ed Henry (@edhenry) October 19, 2015

Other prominent voices have also come forward to claim that Biden is ready to announce. A Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, Representative Brendan Boyle, also tweeted that Biden is likely to jump in soon.

I have a very good source close to Joe that tells me VP Biden will run for Prez — US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) October 19, 2015

Additionally, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware (Biden’s home state), also said earlier today that Biden is expected to “decide about entering the race soon.” While that’s a less definitive statement than those made by Hardy and Boyle, it’s indicative that an announcement is probably coming soon. As expected, there have been a lot of reactions to the most definitive news yet that Biden is going to be jumping into the race.

Breaking: A very good source close to @VP, told me Joe Biden likes Pumpkin Spice latte.

— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) October 19, 2015

And here comes Joe Biden! pic.twitter.com/tfHJutYzSw — Irv (@thisisIRV) October 19, 2015

Fun Fact: Joe Biden has been considering running for president for 11 weeks, which is how long Canada’s entire election has lasted. — Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) October 19, 2015

Overall, this pre-announcement drama isn’t surprising–questions about Biden’s candidacy have been floating around since this spring. Sources leaking that a candidate is going to announce also aren’t new. It allows the buzz about the particular candidate to build in the days before he actual makes an official announcement. That’s exactly what appears to be happening with Biden. 

Given that Biden hasn’t officially announced yet, this is a breaking story, so make sure to check back for updates.

But for now, the waiting time is upon us: 

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Political Rumorville: Joe Biden is in….Maybe? appeared first on Law Street.

Is Vice President Joe Biden going to be a candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination? It’s a question that’s been bouncing around for a while now. Despite widespread speculation, a multitude of op-eds commenting on his chances, and an emotional ad released by a Super PAC dedicated to his potential candidacy, no one really seems to have any idea whether he’ll join the race.

The Democratic field right now is remarkably thin, especially in comparison to the current Republican array of candidates, which is so large that they can’t all fit on the stage at the same time. Currently there’s heavily criticized frontrunner Hillary Clinton, who despite having a commanding lead in the polls has gotten bogged down by email servers and gefilte fish. Then there’s Senator Bernie Sanders, who has a remarkable pull among young people, but is lacking necessary national visibility. People keep forgetting about Governor Martin O’Malley, and Senator Lincoln Chaffee is best known for really liking the metric system. So, the field is ripe for another valid contender–and Joe Biden supporters are hoping that he’ll be it.

America seems like it might be open to a Biden candidacy as well. Currently, he’s polling as the most trustworthy of the possible candidates in the crucial swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Other polls have him beating most of the Republican candidates in head-to-head match-ups. While those numbers may not stay so cheery if Biden does join the race and he’s subjected to negative media attention and attack ads from the other candidates, they are solid evidence that he’d be a strong contender to beat Clinton in the primaries.

There was also a particularly heavy commercial just released by a group called “Draft Biden”–a Super PAC that aims to get Biden to run.

The ad featured photos of Biden from when he and his children were younger, and audio from the commencement speech he gave at Yale University earlier this year. In it, Biden reflects on the tragic car crash that killed his first wife and his daughter. The speech’s poignancy is magnified by the fact that his oldest son, Beau Biden, passed away just a few days later after a battle with brain cancer. The ad is touching, but also ties into the fact that some of Biden’s struggle over whether or not to run for President comes from his grief over his son’s death.

But all of those reasons to run come from other people. What is Biden actually saying and doing? Some speculation has been born out of the fact that he himself leaked to Maureen Dowd that Beau told him to run while he was on his deathbed. It’s a sign that Biden may have been testing the waters–although there’s been speculation about a possible 2016 bid from the VP for a while, the piece that Dowd released on August 1 really added fuel to that fire. But at the end of the day, it’s really not certain what Biden is going to do. While it seems likely that he’s certainly considering a race, right now nothing is certain.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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