ADVERTISEMENT

George Will Contrasts 'Sullen' Clinton Campaign with Surging Sanders Campaign

August 25, 2015

Washington Post columnist George Will on Tuesday contrasted Hillary Clinton's floundering presidential campaign with those of her upstart rivals, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Vice President Joe Biden.

"Bernie Sanders is fun, particularly if you're in politics—as activists are—for the fun of it," Will said on Fox News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier. "Fun is not the word that springs to mind when you look at the Clinton campaign: a kind of plodding, sullen, joyless pursuit of joy."

Will said that the contrast between Clinton and Biden is "deadly."

""At this point, he, Bernie Sanders, could be what Gene McCarthy was to Lyndon Johnson," Will said. He demonstrated Lyndon Johnson's vulnerability in the New Hampshire primary, and Bobby Kennedy said, come to think about it, I might do this instead. It's particularly damaging and threatening I think to Mrs. Clinton because Biden contrasts so vividly with her. He is ebullient, happy—a cheerful, happy warrior. And he's fun. And the contrast is deadly."

It has been reported that Biden is considering a late entry into the Democratic presidential nomination race due to Clinton's declining poll numbers, the likely consequence of her private email scandal.

CNN reports on Biden's "blessing" from President Obama to run:

Vice President Joe Biden received President Barack Obama's "blessing" to make a 2016 bid for the White House, according to a senior Democrat.

But that's if Biden chooses to run -- the decision is his. While he doesn't need the President's permission, of course, a potential presidential candidacy was among the topics of their lunch Monday at the White House. The President made clear he would not stand in his way or counsel him against a run, the senior Democrat said.

The Vice President's office downplayed the speculation about Biden's political future.

"Sources continue to speculate about something they know nothing about," Biden spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said. "This lunch was a private meeting between two people -- the President and the Vice President."