"The time necessary to run a winning campaign for the nomination".

"We will be making a tragic mistake if we attempt to undo the Obama legacy...... Democrats should run on this record".

I'm sad about it, but think he made the right decision.

God Bless Joe

a statesman. I like him, but the time is past, as he mentioned. He will be remembered with grace for this decision.

so much more effectively and succinctly than I!

His running would have besmirched not only his own career, but our party's right now, which is projecting an adult, unified message.

Plus, thinking of his family. Watching Jill behind him in the rose garden ... So sad. I'm sure they are relieved.

can happen. If anything causes Hillary Clinton to fold her campaign, it will be a free-for-all on the Democratic side. I do not expect that to happen; but if it does, it will make the Republican circus look like a knitting-circle.

I remember when campaigns were only a few months long.

A republican could easily jump in now. The leading candidate is Donald Trump and he's polling at 25%. The "serious" candidates are polling very poorly. Very different than what's happening in the Democratic race.

if it was, he would have been in six months ago, guns blazing ...

because they were gearing up and chomping at the bits to destroy him and the party - i.e., he has already been down this road twice before and based on that last time in 2008, they would have immediately tried to drown him in their "gaffe machine" crap.

It's nice, considering his recent personal loss in the death of his son, that he gets some extra media time to restate his values and aspirations for America as his time in public office draws to a close. A decent man -- and I mean that as high praise.

Obama and Biden must be sure she's going to do OK.

BRAVISSIMO!!
Putting the good of the country first, as he always has.

We like biden and all but was NOT looking forward to them fighting it out.

Keep the look, Hill. You're a winner.

and just hope all of his vicious detractors of one sort or another who dare call themselves "patriots" get everything they so richly deserve some day.

to stop the corporate owned clinton third way, mic machine.

he can do it...go bernie!

He gave a heartfelt and lovely speech.

I just wanted him to do what HE felt was best, and knew I'd have mixed emotions either way.

Now, on to Bernie and Hillary!

So he goes out in 15 months - from the second-most-powerful job in America and the second-most-powerful position on earth - with a legacy that will prove to be second to none. He won't be down in the mud, getting messed up, bruised and bloodied, with that being the way we all remember him.

Thank you, Joe. Thank you for your service, Mr. Vice President. And thank you for your lifelong dedication to all the good things.

nt

For what he's been through, I wouldn't blame him a bit for enjoying his retirement. SOS requires a lot of travel.

He's PAID for it. He's paid more than the normal load of dues. He's paid in tears and loneliness and heartbreak. You really just can't help but love the guy. And I look at Jill Biden and I'm so glad he found her and has a strong and brilliant woman like her at his side. I'm glad they found each other. I want him surrounded by love and respect throughout the rest of his remarkable life.

On the other hand, if he got into the mud pit, he'd just emerge damaged, dirtied up, bloodied, and beset with attacks and attackers. And that would be the last thing people remember about him - the fighting, the acrimony, the mud-slinging, and the shitty things the GOP would say about him that would stick in people's minds. This way, he gets to step away in 2017 as a respected elder statesman with head held high and his persona unassailed, his legacy untarnished. He deserves at least that much.

I would hope he still makes a contribution. Understanding him in what limited way I do, I'd guess he'd want to continue to "serve," even if it's closer to the sidelines than to the top of the ziggurat.

We can forget the things he said or did that we didn't love, but we can appreciate the MANY good things he
represented!!

Godspeed, Joe!!

Thank you, Joe. Right decision.

Given that Hillary's numbers are looking better post-debate, and what with McCarthy stepping on his crank re: Benghazi, and Bernie's lancing of the Serverghazi boil, the party establishment doesn't see the need to bring in an alternate.

Good news for Hillary, too. Joe would have taken his gains from her pile, mostly. Not great news for Bernie, though. Ah well.

Another discredited Fox reporting.

and now are patting him on the back.

Between his age,
his decades in the House and Senate,
and now 2 terms as VPOTUS
plus
too many personal family tragedies,
I just don't think the guy's got that "fire in the belly" anymore that is so essential for a POTUS campaign.

I wish him and his family well in all endeavors when his and Obama's terms end.

if it was, he would have been in 6 months ago, guns blazing ...

Trying to make the Dem race seem closer than what it really was. With Biden out the polling will be in a landslide for Hillary.

Now we need to bring everyone back together. Stop attacking Hillary. She will be our nominee! Still support Bernie & his message but the truth is Hillary will be the nominee so stop helping the Republicans by attacking Hillary.

Biden thank you for all you have done!

eom

He's a great guy but he ran for pres 2x already and lost big. He was a huge asset to this admin. Thank you, Joe!

A President needs energy and a real drive to not only get elected, but to fight for his agenda every day. When Joe said he wasn't sure he had the energy, I was hoping he'd not even attempt to run.

We don't need another Iraq War supporter running.

Is this a signal that Hillary won't be indicted for email server? I suspect that is the only reason Biden was going to enter the race, if Hillary couldn't run.

thankless!

I'd love to see him talk about issues closer to home and help THIS mess of a country become a better place!!

to run for president if Hillary Clinton implodes with more emails in the winter. We'll see.

He has given so much and has suffered so much. The time has come for him to enjoy the rest of his life with family and friends. Enough of the horrible political environment.
Thank you Mr Vice President for all your good work.

Don't need another candidate controlled by banks. Ceeee-yah!

Regardless of who wins the nomination, we will not be able to fight the limitless Citizens United funds that the plutocrats will stuff into the Republican coffers without your help in perpetuating and expanding upon the Obama-Biden legacy!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

YOU know how we treat our candidates.. they ALL get roughed up pretty good, and I, for one, am glad he and his family will not be subjected to the process.

....statement slightly altered.

About Sanders, he could have said "every sentence of his has a noun, a verb, and an oligarch".