Draft Biden announces Iowa co-chairs
While Vice President Joe Biden remains undecided on a third bid for the White House, the super PAC Draft Biden is ramping up in Iowa, announcing several new personnel.
Draft Biden is adding two Iowa co-chairs, two hired staff, and the group says it has the support of 13 elected and formally selected officials to lead its efforts in the first state to vote in the Republican primary season.
The co-chairs -- a former Iowa House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy (not to be confused with the U.S. House majority leader of the same name), who was also Biden's 2008 campaign state chair, and Dubuque Democratic activist Teri Hawks Goodmann will lead the group, building its infrastructure and rallying state support behind the vice president, should he decide to run.
The most recent poll of Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa showed Sen. Bernie Sanders gaining significantly on Hillary Clinton, which some Biden supporters interpreted as an opportunity for Biden, though McCarthy says this is not about the polls.
"Right now it is very clear that the electorate, at least a large portion of the electorate on both sides, is really craving someone who is very authentic," McCarthy said, adding that they want "someone who does not appear scripted all of the time."
In Iowa, Biden would face well-established and growing ground organizations for both the Clinton and Sanders campaigns. Clinton currently has 11 offices, 47 organizing staffers and a solid team in the campaign's headquarters in Des Moines. Sanders now has 15 offices and over 50 paid staff.
Biden, however, says that it is not the money or the organization that are considerations for him right now. After losing his son, Beau Biden, just months ago, personal factors are more important.
"Unless I can go to my party and the American people and say that I am able to devote my whole heart and my whole soul to this endeavor, it would not be appropriate," Biden said on Thursday, responding to a question about his presidential campaign plans after making a public speech about the Iran deal in Atlanta.
Goodmann, who attended Beau Biden's funeral, understands the family has been "through quite a lot" this year and says Draft Biden is a movement to let the vice president know that the group is there for him, whatever the outcome.
"Signing up is a demonstration of support for whatever decision the vice president decides to make," Goodmann said. "If the Vice President decides not to run this is salute to him and his family."