NYT: Biden Exploring Run Because of Son's Death

Don't count out Joe Biden from the 2016 race. Two pieces in the New York Times suggest he's poised to challenge Hillary Clinton—in part because of his son's death. One is a news story that says the VP and his advisers are reaching out to party leaders via "hushed phone calls" and "quiet lunches" as they take a serious new look at joining the race. The second is a column by Maureen Dowd, who writes that Beau Biden urged his dad to run when he knew he was going to die. In the column, she recounts a conversation between the two Bidens (it's not sourced).

"Beau was losing his nouns and the right side of his face was partially paralyzed," writes Dowd. "But he had a mission: He tried to make his father promise to run, arguing that the White House should not revert to the Clintons and that the country would be better off with Biden values." She quotes Beau as saying, "Dad, it's who you are." The point is echoed in the news story, where a Biden supporter says he initially thought Joe Biden wouldn't have the desire to run after the loss of his son. "But I’ve had indications that maybe he does want to—and ‘that’s what Beau would have wanted me to do.'" A decision is expected this month or next. (More Joe Biden stories.)