RUN, NEIL, RUN

Washington Whispers: Sen. Joe Biden likes his chances in '04 prez race (Paul Bedard, 07/14/03, US News)

With many Democrats unenthusiastic about the nine presidential candidates, two more are sizing up the race and could join the bid to take on President Bush by September. A top Democratic official says that Delaware Sen. Joe Biden is at least 50-50 on joining "and some days is 70-30." A family member says it's closer to "80 percent" a go. Biden thinks his experience in foreign affairs is a plus in the post-9/11 world. Two hurdles, say allies: How does Biden deal with his speech plagiarism, which helped doom his 1988 bid? And will the public believe that he's healthy despite suffering two aneurysms? Then there's retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, the beneficiary of a vast "Draft Clark" effort. A close aide tells Whispers Clark will decide whether to run within the next two months. "He feels he owes an answer to all of the young people who are trying to draft him," we're told. In fact, some aides are already getting in place to run his campaign if he gives the green light, and potential allies, like Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, say the fellow Arky is an "intriguing" and attractive candidate.

Mr. Biden would be great fun to watch self-destruct. As readers of Riochard Ben Cramer's, What it Takes will be aware, this incident was not a one off. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 7, 2003 1:39 PM