By , ,
Published December 23, 2015
BELOIT, Wis. -- Vice President Biden appeared to snuff out a rumor he started in Florida this week, telling a man who asked him if he's going to run for president that he's "going to stick as vice president."
The exchange, which happened at West Side Family Restaurant in a town next door to Paul Ryan's home town of Janesville, took place as he was shaking hands with patrons.
An elderly gentleman asked, "Are you going to run for president his time?" The VP responded, "Oh no, I am going to stick as vice president."
"Y'all hear that press?" Biden added, pointing to the traveling reporters who were there taking notes and shooting video. Though some witnesses saw some wiggle room -- since it wasn't clear whether the man was asking Biden if he was running in four days for president or in 2016 -- it was apparent the vice president wanted to clear the air with reporters.
The vice president generated whispers of a 2016 presidential run in Sarasota on Wednesday while joking on the phone with the Republican brother of a supporter.
"Look, I'm not trying to talk you into voting for me, I just wanted to say hi to you," Biden said after a brief exchange about President Obama's healthcare law. "And after it's all over when your insurance rates go down, then you'll vote for me in 2016. I'll talk to you later." He was grinning as he delivered the teasing line with reporters watching.
On the campaign trail Biden has sometimes referenced his failed attempts to secure the party's presidential nomination, but he has frequently said he thinks the country made the right decision in 2008. At Friday's rally in Beloit, the vice president reminded the audience how much he supports the president.
A man in the crowd shouted, "Tell (Obama) we love him!"
"I love him too," Biden responded. "I love him too. I tell you what, there's never been a day in the last four years I haven't been proud to be his vice president, not one single day."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-puts-a-damper-on-2016-speculation