Joe Biden Gets Praise, No Endorsements From Senate Democrats

— -- If Vice President Joe Biden runs for president, as people close to him have suggested he’s thinking of doing, he might not pick up much support from members of the Senate, some of whom he worked with there -- at least not right away.

Many Senate Democrats are already declared supporters of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and some just skirted the question altogether when asked, simply responding that they are fans of Biden personally.

“I love Vice President Biden, he is so good at so many things,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, a Clinton supporter, said, adding that he threw his hat in the ring even before he knew his former Virginia colleague, Jim Webb, was running for the Democratic nomination too.

“Joe Biden’s a great vice president. I have the utmost confidence in him whatever he decides to do,” Sen. Ben Cardin said, before adding that he’s also a Clinton supporter.

“Joe’s a wonderful human being,” Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, said.

Asked whether Biden should run, he responded, “That’s up to Joe Biden.”

“I love Joe Biden! I’m not going to go there,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, said.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, one of Clinton’s earliest major Democratic supporters this time around who endorsed President Obama in 2008, avoided answering at all, letting elevator doors close quickly in front of her.

“You know, I’m not going to talk politics today. Thanks,” she said.

“He’d be a great president,” said Sen. Tom Carper, of Delaware, who replaced Biden as the senior Delaware senator after Biden became vice president.

“I think Hillary Clinton would be a great candidate as well. I think the two of them stand head and shoulders above the announced opposition for the Republican Party,” he said. Carper said he has not endorsed and wasn’t clear whether he will or not.

One vote Biden certainly can’t count on is that of Sen. John McCain, Obama’s 2008 Republican opponent, although McCain heaped praise on his former Senate colleague.

“He wouldn’t be a president in keeping with my philosophy but he’s an honest man and a friend of mine. We’re different parties. I’ll leave that up to the Democrats,” he said.