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Barack Obama's second term is barely 48 hours old. Can we hold off on the 2016 chatter for awhile?
The AP reported that Biden is "Stoking 2016 Chatter" after meeting with DNC delegates today and hosting New Hampshire's governor at his house during Inauguration weekend. (You know, the weekend when everyone comes to Washington because the new President is being inaugurated.) The Wall Street Journal says Biden's "Flashing Signs of a 2016 Run" while The New York Times thinks he merely has "an eye" on it. Some alternative headlines might be: "Second-Most Powerful Democrat Attends Democratic Meeting." Or "Vice President Has Friends in Town, Invites Them Over for Drinks."
You've met Joe Biden, right? The dude is chummy with everyone. He also has a pretty important job with lots of functions, so if he shakes a few hands over the next 12 months, it doesn't automatically mean something more ominous. Especially when those hands are visting the city to honor the guy who was actually just elected president. Yet somehow this won't stop political reporters who are sensing the coming post-election doldrums to start speculating about an event we can't possibly predict this far out.
The one and only @stupolitics says the 2016 race starts today. And he's right. So say we all. ow.ly/h1PWO
— The Fix (@TheFix) January 22, 2013
ABC didn't even wait for the swearing-in, asking if Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (who hasn't even fully recovered from a recent fall) should run for office in an election that's 46 months from now. Marco Rubio doing debate prep? Doesn't matter, because it's already Jeb's nomination to lose! Until Rand Paul shows up at CPAC (with every other Republican ever) and takes the pole position. And what's Beau Biden going to say? That he doesn't want his dad to become President someday?