Former Dem senator: Biden bid would not be a ‘wise move’

Former Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, a Hillary Clinton supporter, warned Vice President Biden against challenging Clinton for the Democratic primary in an interview with The New York Times.

“He has served the country so well and been a good friend of mine — I love Joe,” Harkin, a former Democratic Senate colleague of both Biden and Clinton, told the paper. 

{mosads}“I just don’t think this would be a wise move.”

Harkin floated the idea of Biden serving as secretary of State or United Nations ambassador in Clinton’s administration, according to the paper. Biden, the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had long played an important role in Senate deliberations on international relations.

“There are a lot of things he can do down the road that would be of valuable service to the country or the world,” Harkin told The Times. 

Harkin, a long-time fixture in the early nominating state of Iowa, endorsed Clinton earlier this month and traveled with her through the Iowa State Fair.

Biden has privately ramped up consideration of a presidential bid over the past few weeks as some Democrats question whether Clinton’s candidacy is strong enough to weather the controversy surrounding her private email server. If he were to jump in, he’d start as a significant underdog, as Clinton has a major advantage in terms on fundraising and organizational capacities. 

Biden told members of the Democratic National Committee during a phone call on Wednesday that he’s still deeply mourning the death of his son Beau, according to CNN. Beau died in May from brain cancer.

“If I were to announce to run I have to be able to commit to all of you that I would be able to give it my whole heart and my whole soul and right now, both are pretty well banged up,” he said, according to CNN. 

“We’re dealing at home with … whether or not there is the emotional fuel at this time to run.”