Joe Biden Says He May Not Have Emotional Strength to Run for President Following His Son's Death

Vice president is still mourning Beau Biden’s death

By Kendall Fisher Aug 27, 2015 9:33 PMTags
Joe Biden, WindowOlivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images

Vice President Joe Biden is working on building the emotional strength to run in the 2016 presidential election following his son Beau's death in May.

During a conference call with the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday, CNN reports the veep fielded some questions about his political future. When asked about the campaign, he admitted he's still grieving.

"We're dealing at home with...whether or not there is the emotional fuel at this time to run," Biden explained. "If I were to announce to run, I have to be able to commit to all of you that I would be able to give it my whole heart and my whole soul, and right now, both are pretty well banged up."

Keith Bedford/Bloomberg via Getty Images

However, he didn't close the bid entirely.

"I'm not trying to skirt your question," he added. "That's the truth of the matter, but believe me, I've given this a lot of thought and dealing internally with the family on how we do this."

While President Barack Obama has encouraged Biden to run, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the POTUS understands how "intensely personal" the decision-making process is at this time. "That's why we have gone to great lengths to try to give the vice president the time and space that he has earned to make this intensely personal decision."

Something that might keep Biden on track to run, though, is that fact that Beau constantly urged his dad to do so before his passing.

If Biden adheres to his son's wishes and does campaign, he'll have to work his way up in the ranks against Hillary Clinton, who currently appears to be the Democratic front-runner.

Beau passed away in May at age 46 after battling brain cancer for two years.