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President Biden?

by Alicia Lu

As the 2016 presidential election continues to take shape, there's been one constant that has defined the race from an early stage: Hillary Clinton. Though she hasn't formally announced her bid, Clinton is widely regarded as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Not so fast. Fresh off the heels of President Obama's State of the Union address, Vice President Joe Biden made the rounds at a few morning talk shows with a clear message in tow: Don't rest on your laurels just yet, Hillary. Biden might run for president in 2016.

When ABC's Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos asked Biden about running, the vice president answered, "Yes, there is a chance."

But I haven’t made my mind up about that. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then. There’s plenty of time.

Biden, the diplomatic gentleman that he is, also praised his would-be rival, calling Hillary a "really competent, capable person and a friend."

Biden reiterated that nothing is confirmed either way, and that the 2016 race is by no means his priority right now.

Right now my focus is getting implemented what the president talked about last night: to nail down this recovery and get the middle class back in the game.
SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images

Biden echoed a similar sentiment on NBC's Today show. After commenting on Obama's plan to help out the middle class and those alarming shots that were fired near his home, Lauer slyly asked about 2016. "You're known as a guy who can work the room," Lauer noted, correctly. "Do you think you could work that room?" It may have been a heavily nuanced question, but Biden knew exactly what he meant.

Being president and being a leader in the Senate are two different things. When I was in the Senate, I had the great honor of being able to work the room. I was fairly effective getting controversial things resolved, whether it was relating to law enforcement and crime, the Violence Against Women Act.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Is it just me or does this sound like early campaigning?

Seemingly unsatisfied with his answer, Lauer restated his question:

We you like the opportunity to work that room again from that podium?

This time Biden gave a more affirmative answer, teasing us with an almost-yes before bringing the subject back to present time again.

Matt, to be blunt with you, I think I could do a good job. But that's not my focus now. My focus now is keeping this recovery moving, and I have plenty of time to make that decision between now and the summer.
Jeff Fusco/Getty Images News/Getty Images

If Biden does decide to jump in the race, he would certainly shake up the firm ground Hillary has been standing on leading up to the Democratic primary. If the primary came down to Clinton vs. Biden, it would be quite the predicament for Obama. Who would he support? His right-hand man or his longtime political ally? What lengths would the candidates go to in order to secure his endorsement? Would it be a Democratic Hunger Games? May the odds be ever in whose favor? You know I love my Biden, but if it came to blows, my money's on Hillary.

Images: Getty Images (3)