Joe Biden Meets With Elizabeth Warren, As Speculation About A Possible 2016 Presidential Bid Grows

Vice President Joe Biden met privately with Sen. Elizabeth Warren Saturday, in what media outlets saw as the most significant indication yet that he is seriously weighing a 2016 run for the presidency.

The meeting, which was first reported by CNN, took place at Biden's official residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington. The pair's conversation touched on policy issues and both the Republican and Democratic presidential primary campaigns, the New York Times reported. Biden made clear that he was seriously considering a bid of his own, but did not directly ask Ms. Warren for her support. Warren attended the meeting at Biden's request, multiple outlets reported.

Warren, who has served as the senior Senator for Massachusetts since 2013, after working as a special advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is a darling of progressive Democrats. Her hard line against questionable bank practices in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis won her the dedicated support of many in the party and her endorsement is regarded key prize for those competing for the party's 2016 nomination.

Biden has been weighing whether to launch what would be his third bid for the presidency, as the current Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, has seen her popularity drop sharply in recent weeks, amid a growing scandal about her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Biden and his team had begun contacting senior Democrats and major party donors who have not firmly committed to supporting Clinton, Reuters reported.

A top Biden adviser told CNN this week the vice president is expected to wait at least until mid-September to announce a decision on whether he will run. He also sought his party's nomination in 1998 and 2008.