The Note: Joe Biden and the Waiting Game
— -- NOTABLES
-- BIDEN WATCH CONTINUES: Yes, we are still waiting for Vice President Joe Biden to tell us whether he is going to make a White House run in 2016. In the second installment of 'Weekends in Wilmington with Biden,' ABC's JORDYN PHELPS notes that the Vice President cheered on his grandchildren at sporting events on Saturday before heading to New York City in the evening to accept a human rights award. On Sunday, he remained hunkered down at home for most of the day, only venturing out to attend an evening mass in downtown Wilmington. While the topic of 2016 was surely on the vice president's mind during the weekend, he made no explicit mention of the topic on camera. But, he did take notice of the reporters tasked with chasing his motorcade around Wilmington, smiling and joking to our cameras as he left church on Sunday, "I'll pray for ya, find your way back."
--ON THE VP'S SKED with ABC's ALEX MALLIN: This afternoon at 3:30pm, Vice President Biden delivers remarks at the White House on climate change and the climate summit in Paris. He then attends a late afternoon meeting with President Obama and Treasury Secretary Lew before delivering remarks this evening with Dr. Jill Biden at the Naval Observatory at a reception for the 2015 USO Gala honorees.
--JOE BIDEN QUOTES SON BEAU IN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS SPEECH: Vice President Joe Biden made no explicit mention of his contemplation of a 2016 presidential campaign Saturday night at the Athenagoras Human Rights Awards, but he did speak about one of the things believed to be the chief sticking point to a run: grief over the death of his son, Beau, who passed away in May after a fight with brain cancer. The vice president, who was this year's recipient of the award, the highest bestowed by the Greek Orthodox Church, shared something he said his son often said. "Put one foot in front of the other, as my son Beau used to say, just keep moving forward," Biden said. "It is my faith that has kept me moving forward." ABC's MATTHEW CLAIBORNE and DEVIN DWYER have more. http://abcn.ws/1W0kFUa
--JOE BIDEN COURTS FIREFIGHTERS UNION WITH 2016 DECISION EXPECTED: Vice President Joe Biden has the "very likely" support of the nation's largest union of firefighters should he decide to enter the 2016 presidential race, a top union official tells ABC News. Biden placed a personal call to Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Firefighters, early Friday morning to discuss his potential candidacy and a strategy to win, Schaitberger said. News of the call was first reported by the Washington Post. "You certainly came away with the view and feeling that he is moving toward seriously making a decision," Schaitberger said. An IAFF endorsement would be a big boost out of the gate for Biden should he jump into the race, ABC's DEVIN DWYER notes. http://abcn.ws/1GMoH6a