Could Democrats see a Biden-O'Rourke ticket for the 2020 presidential election?
The Associated Press reports that current and past advisers to former Vice President Joe Biden have discussed the possibility of out-going Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke joining Biden for the 2020 presidential campaign.
Sources spoke to the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity but said that discussions have been had about O'Rourke running with Biden. O'Rourke is just one option floated by Biden's advisers, the Associated Press said.
The hope is, sources said, that Biden would be bolstered by a younger running mate as many have expressed concerns about his age. If elected in November 2020, Biden will be 77-years-old, which would make him the oldest president voted into office. Ronald Regan is the current oldest president, having been elected for his second term at 73. Donald Trump was elected at age 70.
Biden is reportedly going to decide in January or February if he will run for the Democratic nomination, and while the former VP is a favorite in some early polls, others have expressed doubts in relation to his age.
"Can you mobilize younger voters with older candidates? Bernie [Sanders] showed us that you can, but can you effectively mobilize a winning coalition with an older candidate? That is our conundrum, and I would suggest you probably can't. We want freshness coupled with experience; we also want energy and passion in our candidates," Iowa Democratic activist Dale Todd told the Associated Press.
The field for the nomination is expected to be crowded, with younger Democrats such as Sens. Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Kristin Gillibrand all reportedly considering presidential campaigns.
Biden has said in several events that he feels qualified for the job, using his age as a positive amid criticism. He served 36 years in the Senate before joining former President Barack Obama's ticket in 2008 and spending eight years in the White House.
"The issues we face as a country today are the issues that have been in my wheelhouse, that I've worked on my whole life," Biden said earlier this month at an event in Montana. He added that he is "the most qualified person in the country to be president."
O'Rourke, 46, said today that he hasn't yet decided if he will run for president in 2020, but speculation remains rampant about the Texan, who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz by a three-point margin in November.
11:33 p.m., 12/14/18: This story has been updated to reflect that Biden and O'Rourke have not met to discuss the possibility of a joint ticket.
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