Joe Biden says he has 'no obvious reason' not to run for presidency

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- During an interview with CNN, Vice President Joe Biden was asked about running for the presidency in 2016.

Although he said that he’ll decide “realistically, a year this summer,” the vice president indicated he may end up running simply because he can’t think of a good reason not to.

“There may be reasons I don't run, but there's no obvious reason for me why I think I should not run,” he told Kate Bolduan of CNN. Biden indicated that he would base his decision on who he feels is “the best qualified person.”

“That doesn't mean I'm the only guy that can do it,” he said. “But if no one else, I think, can, and I think I can, then I'd run. If I don't, I won't.”

A recent poll found that voters prefer former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Biden by a 73 percent to 12 percent margin.

Biden is currently working on a task force to help employ the more than 10 million Americans who remain without jobs. “The income inequity in this country is profound. The middle class is shrinking,” Biden said.

The vice president was asked if the problems with the Affordable Care Act would have a negative effect on the upcoming November elections.

“The prospects of Democrats running for Congress, incumbents in the Senate, I think we are in the best shape we can be,” he said. “On every major issue, the public agrees between 51 and 70 percent with the position taken by the president of the United States and the Democratic Party.” Biden added he’s “truly optimistic about this year’s races.”

[CNN]