Biden Says He’s Unsure About Seeking Presidential Nomination

Biden’s voice was hoarse, and he appeared a bit tired, as he spoke to a group of 2,000 people at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Buckhead.

He had spent the last two days in Florida but had to fly back to Washington, D.C., for an emergency National Security Council meeting before making his way to Atlanta.

The vice president was asked, point blank, about his intentions for the 2016 presidential race. He replied that the most relevant factor in his decision is whether he and his family have the emotional energy to run.

“I have to be honest with you and everyone who’s come to me, I can’t look you straight in the eye and say, ‘Now, I can do that,’” said Biden.

Biden referenced recovering from the death of his first wife and daughter, who died in a car crash in 1972, and he alluded to his son Beau’s death three months ago. He said, “There is no way to put a timetable on that.”

Biden spoke Thursday night at the Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Lecture, established by his longtime friend, former U.S. Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat.