Some Joe Biden supporters are reluctant to support Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary race even after the vice president officially announced that he will not run for president.
The New York Times reported:
While some prominent Biden admirers say they will now support her, others are expressing reluctance, and several are resisting--citing concerns about Mrs. Clinton’s electability, the threat of the investigation into her email practices as secretary of state, or a lack of enthusiasm for a veteran combatant in the country’s political wars. Within minutes of Mr. Biden’s announcement on Wednesday that he would not run for president, senior Clinton advisers began contacting many of her central allies--donors, party officials and other well-connected figures--to strategize on the best ways to galvanize support from two critical groups: high-ranking Democrats who were waiting for Mr. Biden’s decision until choosing a candidate, and influential leaders and donors within the party establishment who were loyal to Mr. Biden.
While some Biden supporters say that they will support Clinton, several appear characterized by a lack of excitement in the former secretary of state as she continues to battle controversy surrounding her private email.
"Will I write her a check? I suppose I’ll be compelled to. But she has enough help. I’m interested in getting back five Senate seats," Jim Torrey, a fundraiser, said, expressing concern that the Democratic Party has "no bench."
Lobbyist David Kennedy, who netted more than $1 million for President Obama’s reelection campaign, explained that he is "just not inspired the way [he] was when the president first ran."
At least one Biden supporter is turning towards Clinton’s challenger, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the wake of the vice president’s announcement.
"I’m leaning more toward Sen. Sanders," Democratic superdelegate Nancy Jacobson said. "He’s talking about regular working people."
The lack of enthusiasm for Clinton--even with Biden sitting out of the 2016 race--comes just as the former secretary of state appears before the House committee investigating the 2012 Benghazi attacks and faces questions regarding her private email system.
The FBI is currently investigating the personal server she used at the State Department to conduct all of her work email communications.
Former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party Richard Harpootlian suggested that Clinton may not have enough support in swing states to win the general election next year.
"Hillary just has huge problems right now in terms of getting elected next November," Harpootlian stated.
Meanwhile, a recent analysis revealed that more than 90 percent of the 833 individuals who raised money for the Obama-Biden reelection campaign are not listed among Clinton’s biggest bundlers.