Joe Biden Invites Top Democratic Fundraisers To Meet With Him At Naval Observatory

Vice President Joe Biden invited several major Democratic fundraisers to meet with him after Labor Day at his official residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory, the Washington Post reported Monday. In the past few weeks, Biden has been meeting with supporters and allies as he contemplates jumping into the 2016 presidential race, and his invitation to meet with Democratic fundraisers is part of series of conversations he is having with several senior party players.

Top bundlers responsible for raising major funds for the Obama-Biden campaigns in 2008 and 2012 have been invited to Biden's residence, people familiar with the outreach said, the Washington Post reported. The gathering is scheduled for the week following Labor Day.

Biden has been ramping up discussions about whether he should seek the Democratic presidential nomination in recent weeks and privately met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Saturday, which many media outlets viewed as the most significant indication yet he is seriously considering jumping into the 2016 race. If Biden were to run, it would be his third bid for the presidency.

Hillary Clinton, the current Democratic front-runner, has seen her popularity sharply decline in recent weeks as she continues to be plagued with questions regarding the use of her personal email and private server during her time as secretary of state. Emails and calls among top bundlers have been going back and forth as many people try to determine how serious Biden is.

"The network is starting to reach out," one major Obama fundraiser, who requested anonymity, told the Washington Post. "I’m getting calls from people saying, 'We’re waiting for him to announce.' People are nervous and weary of the Hillary sideshow, of the emails."

Despite the scandal, many donors said they are still strongly committed to Clinton and would remain so even if Biden jumped into the race.

Andy Spahn, a major Hollywood fundraiser, wrote in an email he has "much respect for the job Joe Biden has done as VP but it's too late in the game to mount a credible campaign. Hope he will join us all in support of Hillary Clinton's candidacy," the Post reported.

If Biden were to run for the presidency, President Barak Obama possibly would have to choose between two of his closest advisers. White House press secretary Josh Earnest left open the possibility Monday Obama would endorse a Democratic candidate. Although Earnest discussed Biden’s experience, he avoided questions pertaining to whether Obama wanted Biden to enter the race, the Associated Press reported.

Biden is expected to decide by the end of September whether he will run, his advisers have said.