Joe Biden says he needs a VP who can 'take over immediately' if he dies in office: 'I'm an old guy'

Former vice president openly addresses the issue of his age in Iowa with days to go before the caucus

Chris Riotta
New York
Thursday 30 January 2020 18:45 GMT
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Joe Biden says 'Beau should be the one running for president'

Joe Biden has said he must pick a vice president capable of taking over the White House “immediately” if he wins the Democratic nomination, acknowledging to voters in Iowa this week: “I’m an old guy.”

Speaking openly about an issue that has followed the 77-year-old former vice president as he campaigns in the early-voting state, Mr Biden addressed his age and said there are “at least eight women, at least four or five people of colour” who he believed were “totally qualified to be vice president”.

“But for me, it has to be demonstrated that whoever I pick is two things,” the 2020 hopeful continued. “One, is capable of [being] president because I’m an old guy.”

Mr Biden said he was serious as some in the crowd laughed, according to Washington Examiner, which first reported the quotes from the former vice president.

“Look, I thank God I'm in great health. I work out. No, I'm serious. You know, I work out every morning. I'm in good shape — knock on wood, as my mother would say,” he said.

Mr Biden continued: “I released all my medical records … But you never know. You never know what's going on. And I'm sure what would happen is I have — some people looking would say, 'Is the person Biden picked capable of, God forbid something happened to Biden, that they would be able to take over immediately?"

If elected, the former vice president — who has mostly led in national polling throughout the 2020 Democratic primaries — would become the oldest president ever inaugurated.

The issues of age and gender have meanwhile found their front-and-centre into a crowded primary process, as Mr Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, 78, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, 70, have all led in polling data across key states.

Analysts say Iowa will likely prove to be a crucial moment for the 2020 primary process, as candidates deliver their closing arguments on what makes them the most electable opponent to take on Donald Trump in the general election.

Mr Biden, who has flaunted his connections to former President Barack Obama as part of his electability argument in 2020, previously teased at the possibility of having Michelle Obama serve as his vice president.

“Well, I sure would like Michelle to be the vice president,” he said earlier in the day, calling the former first lady and her husband “incredibly qualified” and “such decent, honourable people”.

The former vice president also hinted at recruiting California senator Kamala Harris to his potential Democratic ticket, saying the ex-2020 hopeful — who bowed out of the race last year — “has the capacity to do just about anything”.

“I think she is bright as can be,” he added. “She can do anything from the court to being attorney general to being vice president to being a cabinet member to staying in the Senate.”

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