Bill Clinton is reportedly 'very agitated' by the idea of Biden jumping into the race

While Hillary Clinton might be brushing aside concerns about a potential Joe Biden candidacy, Bill Clinton is "very agitated" by the possibility and the media hype surrounding it, a person who "has spoken with the former president in the last couple of weeks" told Politico. Amidst the email controversy and the "surprisingly stout" challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has polled ahead of Clinton in New Hampshire for the last two weeks, Politico reports that the Clinton camp "isn't in a patient mood."
Still though, Clinton campaign staffers say their boss isn't allowing them to push negative information about Biden, which they say would likely backfire in light of Biden's recent family tragedy (his son passed away this spring). While Bill is reportedly irked by the possibility of a challenge from Biden, Hillary is falling more in line with Clinton campaign officials who think a Biden bid could "energize what has been a fairly lackluster performance by the candidate this far," Politico says.
Whether spun in a positive or a negative light though, the Clintons are definitely keeping an eye on the veep. Biden has said he could wait until as late as early October to make his decision and, according to insiders, at this point "he's not leaning one way or the other."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Read the full scoop on the Biden hype at Politico.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein