Former Clinton operative turned Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday rushed to speculate that Joe Biden’s “window is closing” and that the “weakened” Vice President has waited too long to enter the presidential race. Citing a new poll, Stephanopoulos opened the show by trumpeting, “Hillary Clinton surging past her rivals.... Vice president Biden drops some hints last night he may be running, but is his window closing?”
Referencing the ABC News/Washington Post survey, the co-host lectured, “It might give Biden supporters some pause. It shows a strong move from Hillary Clinton after that debate.” Regarding the Vice President’s decision-making process, reporter Jon Karl marveled, “The question remains, what is Biden doing?”
Movement up in the polls for Clinton has left “some of [Biden’s] supporters to think he’s probably waited too long to do this.” Stephanopoulos underlined the “new poll we have does show his position has weakened over the last month.”
On October 14, Stephanopoulos, who worked in the White House, touted Mrs. Clinton’s debate performance as her “best day.”
On October 15, the GMA host pushed the VP not to run, saying that the wife of his former boss is “smoking out” Biden.
A transcript of the October 20 segment, which aired at 7:01am ET, is below:
GMA
10/20/15
7am teaseGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Hillary Clinton surging past her rivals. Our new poll this morning shows the Democratic front-runner opening up a big lead after the first debate. Vice President Biden drops some hints last night he may be running, but is his window closing?
7:01
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Meanwhile, the political world waiting for Joe Biden. There he is right there. Will he or won't he run for president? Washington Post jumped the gun a little bit last night. Look at that accidental headline.
ROBIN ROBERTS: Whoops.
STEPHANOPOULOS: “Biden to launch presidential campaign.” Not so fast. It came down but our new ABC News/Washington Post poll is just out right now and it might give Biden supporters some pause. It shows a strong move from Hillary Clinton after that debate, some slippage from Biden. ABC's Jonathan Karl has all the latest. Good morning, Jon.
JON KARL: Good morning, George. Hillary Clinton got a big boost coming out of that debate but it hasn't stopped the frenzy of speculation about whether or not Joe Biden will jump into the race.
JOE BIDEN: Man, I do enjoy Pittsburgh. How are you?
KARL: It wasn't quite a campaign speech but Joe Biden spoke passionately, Monday, about tackling the threat of climate change.
BIDEN: What are we doing? What are we doing?
KARL: The question remains, what is Biden doing? A source involved with Biden's deliberations on whether to run for president tells ABC News the Vice President has not made a decision yet. He is busy calling supporters but some in Biden's circle now believe he may wait another week before announcing his plans. Well, Biden is still mum on 2016, he may be testing out some potential campaign lines.
BIDEN: I'm not one of these guy, you know, let's go after the rich and the powerful and they're the problem. They're not a problem.
KARL: Is that a swipe at Bernie Sanders' campaign against billionaires? Or listen to this one.
BIDEN: I don't consider Republicans enemies. They’re friends.
KARL: Is that a subtle shot at Hillary? Here's what she said when asked which enemies she’s most proud of.
CLINTON: Well, in addition to the NRA, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the Iranians, probably the Republicans.
KARL: But after Clinton's strong performance at the first Democratic debate, voters are split on whether Biden should run. Forty seven percent of Democrats say they want Biden to get in the race, while 49 percent say he should stay out. One Biden confidant acknowledged the odds are against him starting so late, with no money and no campaign organization. As for that Washington Post headline that briefly hit the paper's headline — website, the reporter who wrote it, Paul Kaine wants everybody to know he had also prepared a Biden is not running story as well. George?
STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm sure he has. Okay. Thanks. Meanwhile, you know, Biden and his team say he's not paying attention to the polls as he makes this decision. No decision yet from the Vice President, but that new poll we have does show his position has weakened over the last month.
KARL: Yeah. It's dramatic, George. Take a look at it now. This is where the race was a month ago. Hillary Clinton at 42 percent. Now she is up to over 50 percent. Has a 31-point lead, a huge boost coming out of that debate, leaving some of his supporters to think he's probably waited too long to do this.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, Jon Karl, thanks very much.
