File Photo: US Vice President Joe Biden.
US Vice President Joe Biden announced Wednesday he will not run for the White House in 2016, removing a potential obstacle to frontrunner Hillary Clinton's path to the Democratic presidential nomination.
"I believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination," Biden said in the White House Rose Garden with President Barack Obama and his wife Jill at his side.
"While I am not going to be a candidate, I will speak out clearly and forcefully as to where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation."
The 72-year-old Biden said his family was still mourning the loss of his son Beau, who succumbed to brain cancer in May. He made an impassioned plea for more research and funding to put a stop to the disease.
"Beau is our inspiration," Biden said, but added that while his family was working through the grieving process, the time to mount a viable campaign had run out.
"We found purpose in public life," he said.
He delivered a vigorous defense of Obama's accomplishments and called for Democrats and Republicans to work together.
"Our nation will be making a tragic mistake if we walk away or attempt to un-do the Obama legacy. The American people have worked too hard, and we have come too far for that," he said.
"Democrats should not only defend and protect this record, but they should run on the record," Biden added -- a comment seen by some as a possible dig at Clinton, who has come out against a Pacific free trade deal she supported while serving as Obama's secretary of state.
He urged Democrats and Republicans to "end the divisive partisan politics that is ripping this country apart."
"It is mean-spirited and petty and it has gone on for much too long," he said.
"I don't think that we should look at Republicans as our enemies. They are opposition. They are not our enemies. And for the sake of the country, we have to work together."
"I believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination," Biden said in the White House Rose Garden with President Barack Obama and his wife Jill at his side.
"While I am not going to be a candidate, I will speak out clearly and forcefully as to where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation."
The 72-year-old Biden said his family was still mourning the loss of his son Beau, who succumbed to brain cancer in May. He made an impassioned plea for more research and funding to put a stop to the disease.
"Beau is our inspiration," Biden said, but added that while his family was working through the grieving process, the time to mount a viable campaign had run out.
"We found purpose in public life," he said.
He delivered a vigorous defense of Obama's accomplishments and called for Democrats and Republicans to work together.
"Our nation will be making a tragic mistake if we walk away or attempt to un-do the Obama legacy. The American people have worked too hard, and we have come too far for that," he said.
"Democrats should not only defend and protect this record, but they should run on the record," Biden added -- a comment seen by some as a possible dig at Clinton, who has come out against a Pacific free trade deal she supported while serving as Obama's secretary of state.
He urged Democrats and Republicans to "end the divisive partisan politics that is ripping this country apart."
"It is mean-spirited and petty and it has gone on for much too long," he said.
"I don't think that we should look at Republicans as our enemies. They are opposition. They are not our enemies. And for the sake of the country, we have to work together."
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