Joe Biden close to 2016 decision, top aide says

Former senator Ted Kaufman, a longtime top adviser to Vice President Biden, offered clues about Biden's presidential deliberations in a letter to supporters Thursday night, saying that Biden will run a "campaign from the heart" if he enters the 2016 race.

Kaufman hinted that Biden is close to making a decision.

"I am confident that the Vice President is aware of the practical demands of making a final decision soon," Kaufman said in his letter, a copy of which was obtained by The News Journal. "He has been in public and political life a long time and he has a good grip on the mechanics around this decision."

Kaufman, who was appointed by former governor Ruth Ann Minner in 2008 serve out the remainder of Biden's term in the Senate when he was elected vice president, pledged an "optimistic campaign" from Biden should he decide to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

"If he runs, he will run because of his burning conviction that we need to fundamentally change the balance in our economy and the political structure to restore the ability of the middle class to get ahead," Kaufman said. "And what kind of campaign?  An optimistic campaign. A campaign from the heart. A campaign consistent with his values, our values, and the values of the American people. And I think it's fair to say, knowing him as we all do, that it won't be a scripted affair — after all, it's Joe."

Kaufman's letter, which was sent late Thursday, was first reported by the Associated Press. The letter comes after reports that former secretary of State Hillary Clinton's strong performance in the first Democratic presidential made it more difficult for Biden to enter the race and rationalize a campaign.

But Kaufman said Biden's top consideration remains whether his family can withstand another presidential campaign. The vice president and the Biden family have been considering a campaign just months after the May 30 death of Beau Biden, the vice president's eldest son and former Delaware attorney general.

"All of you know well that the first and foremost consideration will be the welfare and support of his family," Kaufman said in the letter. "That's Joe Biden. He has been clear about this and it is as true today as it has been for the past several months. He is determined to take, and to give his family, as much time as possible to work this through."

Starkey reports for The News Journal.