Biden in ‘no rush’ on WH decision

Vice President Biden will not “rush” his decision to run for president in 2016, even if it means waiting too long to get on the ballot, he said in interview published Monday. 

Biden said the ultimate deciding factor will be whether a presidential campaign is in the best interest of his family, which is mourning the loss of his son Beau. 

{mosads}“For us, this is a family decision. And I just have to be comfortable that this will be good for the family,” he told America Media, a Catholic news organization. “We’re just not quite there yet and it may not get there in time to make it feasible to be able to run and succeed because there are certain windows that will close.”

Whatever decision he makes, Biden indicated he will not have any regrets.

“If that’s it, that’s it. But it’s not like I can rush it,” he said. “It’s not like — it either happens or it doesn’t happen.”

ABC News first reported on the Biden interview with American Media.

The vice president’s aides have suggested he is more likely than not to run, and are debating the timing of an announcement, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

But several dates have appeared to complicate that process, including the first Democratic presidential debate, scheudled for Oct. 13. The first filing deadline for Democratic candidates to get on the primary ballot is in Alabama: candidates must file paperwork by Nov. 6. 

Family concerns have loomed large over Biden’s deliberations. The vice president has said he figuring out whether he has the “emotional fuel” to run while he and his family are grieving Beau Biden’s death. 

Biden said his family is trying to “focus on the inspiration” from his son’s life, rather than dwell on his loss. 

“Regardless of what I do in public or private life, we are not going to walk away from the things that were, that made Beau’s life, in his mind beyond his family, worthwhile,” he said. 

Biden recalled one of his father’s old sayings: “Just get up pal, get up.”

“That’s what Beau wants us to do,” he added. “That’s what Beau expects his father to do, so we’re just getting up and moving on and we’re going to do good things in his name.”

Reports have previously suggested Biden’s wife, Jill, is reluctant about her husband running for president, but NBC News reported this weekend she is “fully behind him for another bid.”

“Of course Dr. Biden would be on board if her husband decides to run for president but they haven’t made that decision yet,” said James Gleeson, a spokesman for the second lady.