6 pundits and politicians who erroneously predicted Joe Biden would run for president

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
After 11 weeks of the media breathlessly speculating whether Vice President Joe Biden would jump into the presidential race, Wednesday's announcement gave us a definitive answer: Biden will not seek the Democratic nomination for president. That announcement leaves a lot of political pundits and experts with totally wrong guesses out in the ether. Here's a look at some experts whose expertise — or sources — didn't result in a correct prediction of the future:
1. Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol:
2. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.):
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.
3. FOX News Chief White House correspondent Ed Henry:
4. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.):
"If I was a betting woman, I'd say he would. I think he's always aspired to it. He's been a vice president for a long time. He's been a wonderful public servant who cares deeply about issues, and he's a champion and he wants to fight for his values and his goals for America." [Fortune]
5. The Washington Post political reporter Chris Cillizza:
"It is IMPOSSIBLE to take Biden's comments about the closeness of his relationship with Obama and the authority that his job conveys as anything but the sort of thing a guy who has made his mind up to run says. Biden has been around politics for a long time and knows what he is doing." [The Washington Post]
6. Mic senior staff writer Greg Krieg:
"During a panel discussion with former Vice President Walter Mondale on Tuesday, Biden dropped several hints about what a potential candidacy might look like. Though he did not hint about his choice or when he might announce it, Biden didn't simply 'sound like a candidate' — he sounded like a candidate very clearly attempting to edge out a rival, Hillary Clinton. He nimbly poked at his former colleague with a handful of ostensibly offhand comments that just so happened to answer potential criticism while drawing himself closer to President Barack Obama, who remains popular with Democratic primary voters." [Mic]
Honorable mention: The Washington Post
The Washington Post's prediction took the form of a mistakenly published article with the headline, "Biden to launch a presidential campaign."
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Today’s political cartoons — September 29, 2023
Friday's cartoons - Biden's dog bite incident, the government shutdown and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
'A teetering democracy of gerontocrats?'
Instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass Published
-
Every 'Saw' film, ranked
The Explainer The highs and lows of the gory horror soap opera
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Will the cannabis banking bill get the Senate's green light?
Talking Point The SAFER Banking Act is advancing to the US Senate for the first time, clearing a major hurdle for legal cannabis businesses. Does it stand a chance?
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Biden creates White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Speed Read The office will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Rishi Sunak lambasts China after allegations of spy in UK Parliament
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Judge denies Mark Meadows' request to move Georgia case to federal court
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson dies at 75
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Clarence Thomas officially discloses trips from billionaire GOP donor
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Judge schedules Trump federal election plot trial for crowded March 2024
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Trump surrenders in Georgia election subversion case
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published