Hunter Biden is leaving open the possibility of running for president in 2028, saying during a radio interview that he has not decided whether to seek the White House and joking that an endorsement from host John Catsimatidis might persuade him to enter the race.
During an episode of “The Cats Roundtable” released Sunday, Catsimatidis asked Biden whether he intended to run for president. Biden responded, “If I get your endorsement, I may have to.”
When the subject came up earlier in the interview, Biden gave a less committal answer, saying, “I haven’t made up my mind.”
“The truth of the matter is that I think we have an incredible bench,” Biden said, pointing to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker before adding: “I love Gavin Newsom, personally.”
Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, has publicly acknowledged considering a presidential campaign. In an interview with CBS News last October, he said he would be “lying” if he claimed he was not thinking about a possible White House bid following the 2026 midterm elections.
Other Democrats whose names have been discussed in connection with the 2028 race include Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Pete Buttigieg.
Biden said that regardless of who ultimately runs, he wants “the next president to commit to one thing: to commit to adhering to the rule of law. To commit to the idea that we believe in this constitutional republic and the aspirations of normal Americans.”
“I truly, truly want whoever is our president to succeed. But particularly succeed in keeping this country safe. That’s their primary responsibility,” he said.
An August Emerson College/The Hill survey tested hypothetical 2028 general-election matchups involving several possible Democratic and Republican candidates.
In those hypothetical contests, Newsom held narrow advantages over Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Ocasio-Cortez trailed both Republicans. The results represented voter preferences at the time of the survey rather than predictions of the 2028 outcome.
Biden also said his immediate concern “is the 50 million Americans that are still suffering, sick … with their addictions.”
Biden, who has spoken publicly about his past struggles with substance abuse, said during the interview that he recently marked seven and a half years of sobriety. His latest comments about a possible presidential campaign come shortly after he dismissed the idea during an August appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” where he joked that someone should check whether he had relapsed if he ever announced a run for president.
{Matzav.com}
