Biden: 'I Never Thought She Was a Great Candidate'

Let it be known that Joe Biden doesn’t plan on letting President Trump get away with all the juicy soundbites this year. While speaking at a hedge fund conference in Las Vegas Thursday, CNN reports that Biden was asked when he knew Hillary Clinton was the right Democratic candidate during the 2016 election. "I never thought she was a great candidate,” he replied. “I thought I was a great candidate." Biden, who ultimately decided not to run in the Democratic primaries after the death of son Beau, clarified that he thought Clinton would have made “a really good president.” As for his own future in public office, Biden didn’t rule out making a bid for the White House in 2020.

"Could I? Yes,” he said. “Would I? Probably not." Biden, however, said that under the right circumstances, including being in good health (he’s 74), he may “very well do it.” Aaron Blake of the Washington Post weighs the political ramifications of slighting Clinton to those seeking a 2020 bid. He writes that though Clinton herself admitted she is not “a natural politician,” her supporters will not likely warm up to Biden’s comments or similar criticisms made by Bernie Sanders, who has also hinted at taking on Trump in 2020. It's a "delicate dance" at this point for would-be candidates. Biden held back any direct jabs at Trump during his talk, but made a point to praise Obama’s presidency for being scandal-free and Obama himself for being "absolutely, totally competent." (More Joe Biden stories.)