Watch: Joe Biden’s Speech Explaining Why He Is Not Running – And Why He Wanted To (Video)

Here are clips of Joe Biden’s speech announcing he is not running.

Vice President Joe Biden, standing with President Barack Obama and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, announced just past noon today in the White House’s Rose Garden that he will not run for president.

Biden cited his grieving process for his late son Beau, and how that has impacted the timeline necessary for him to mount a successful campaign. In short, it’s too late Biden said.

The Vice President mentioned were he to have been president, he would have tried to cure cancer, “because it’s possible,” a nod to his son Beau’s untimely death. “If I could be anything, I wish I could be the president who ended cancer.”

Biden also mentioned LGBT civil rights and the work left to be done.

“We, ordinary Americans, believe in possibilities. Unlimited possibilities,” Biden said.

And he urged an end to “divisive” partisan politics. “For the sake of the country, we need to work together. … Compromise is not a dirty word.”

Vice President Biden also told Democrats they should not only embrace the work he and President Obama have done, “they should run on it.”

And he said that while he won’t be a candidate, he won’t be silent.

Watch the first few minutes here, the complete video at C-SPAN. 

 

Image: Screenshot via YouTube