Vice President Joe Biden Not Running for President of the United States

Politician made the announcement in the Rose Garden

It's official: Joe Biden is not running for president. 

The 72-year-old current vice president of the United States delivered a statement in the Rose Garden on Wednesday morning, with his wife Jill Biden and President Barack Obama by his side, announcing that he will not be running in the 2016 election, citing the death of his son Beau Biden, who passed away in May at age 46 after battling brain cancer. 

"I've concluded [the window] has closed," he said. "I know from previous experience there is no time table for this process...Beau is our inspiration. Unfortunately, I believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign. But while I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent."  

Speculation has been running rampant that Barack Obama's right hand man would run, vying for the democratic nomination against the likes of Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley, Bernie Sanders and Lincoln Chafee. 

But while the former Delaware senator, who has run for president twice before, will not be entering the race, he made no secret of his feelings towards our nation's current state. 

"I intend to speak out clearly and forcefully, to influence as much as I can where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation and this is what I believe: I believe that President Obama has led this nation from crisis to recovery and we're now on the cusp or resurgence," he said. "I'm proud to have played a part in that. This party, our nation, will be making a tragic mistake if we walk away or attempt to undo the Obama legacy."

In August, during a conference call with the Democratic National Committee, Biden opened up about his possible presidential bid and admitted he's still grieving the death of his son.

"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."

Currently, Hillary Clinton appears to be the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. According to NBC News, she increased her lead over Senator Bernie Sanders following the first Democratic debate last week.  

I think Joe Biden made correct decision for him & his family. Personally, I would rather run against Hillary because her record is so bad.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2015

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