The details of Maureen Dowd’s Aug. 1 New York Times column recounting the dying wish of Beau Biden that his father Joe Biden run for President came from the vice president himself, according to a Politico report.
Anonymous sources close to Biden told Politico the vice president conveyed the anecdote in what the article called a “trial balloon.” The column kicked off renewed speculation about a Biden candidacy.
Beau died of brain cancer in May.
Though Biden and his allies have largely framed his decision whether to run in emotional terms, the sources tell Politico that Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers, timing and other pragmatic matters have been taken into account as well.
“Calculation sort of sounds crass, but I guess that’s what it is,” a Biden source told Politico. “The head is further down the road than the heart is.”
Biden is expected to announce his decision in the days to come, CBS News reported.
