A leading figure in Hollywood’s political fundraising community is endorsing Vice President Biden’s potential presidential campaign next year, a new report says.
United Talented Agency managing partner Jay Sures announced on Tuesday that he hopes Biden launches a third Oval Office bid in 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
{mosads}“I believe Biden is the most qualified person to be president and there are lots of people in Hollywood who believe the same thing,” Sures told the news publication that morning.
“Biden is incredible,” he said. “He’s a guy who has been in public service for 40-some years, who really understands what the average American is going through.”
“Coming out of the loss of his son, he has a message of hopefulness,” Sures added, citing the passing of Beau Biden, the vice president’s son, earlier this summer. “I would get front-and-center behind him if he decides to run.”
Biden is seriously considering entering the race for next year’s Democratic presidential nomination amid national sympathy for the loss of his son. The vice president has repeatedly stated, however, that he is unsure if he possesses the emotional energy to seek the White House one more time.
Sures argued on Tuesday that Biden’s potential entrance into the 2016 presidential race would strengthen his party’s eventual nominee for the general election.
“There are some people who love Secretary Clinton and think she’s amazing,” he said of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for next year’s Democratic presidential coronation.
“But there is a very large group of people who want there to be a real debate on the Democratic side,” Sures added. “At the very least, the two of these people running against each other will make the nominee a better candidate.”
Enthusiasm for Biden’s potential candidacy is surging amid voter concerns over Clinton’s trustworthiness and transparency.
At issue is Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary from 2009 to 2013.
Clinton remains the leader for next year’s Democratic presidential nomination across multiple national polls despite the controversy.
She ranks first out of seven candidates, including Biden, with 43.3 percent, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of samplings.
Biden places third with 20 percent.