“Democrats will win in November and we will have a Democratic president succeeding me”. The gatherings, which often take place in Maryland, are closed to the public.
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Turning political prognosticator, Biden acknowledged that “it’s been a tough last couple cycles” – an apparent reference to Republican romps in the 2010 and 2014 midterm elections – but insisted that Democrats have “a real shot” to retake Congress.
The race has proven uncomfortable for some establishment Democrats, many of whom lined up early to support former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Biden is said to have been inspired to launch the initiative after his son, Beau Biden, died from brain cancer previous year. “To make a decade worth of advances in five years - and, eventually, end cancer as we know it”.
“There’s a lot of noise and a lot of talk about America in decline”, he said. “I don’t believe it, and the facts don’t show it”, he continued, citing the economic recovery, the Affordable Care Act, and the improvement of the auto industry.
Addressing House Democrats at their annual retreat in Baltimore, President Obama predicted that the party will continue to hold the White House after this year’s general election.
Biden said the task force is meant to “ensure that we make the most of our federal investments, research and data, computing capabilities, targeted incentives, private-sector efforts, and patient-engagement initiatives”. “Then contrast that to what they are for and what they oppose”.
Those feelings aside, Biden chose to forgo a battle against Trump for the presidency, announcing last fall he wouldn’t enter the race. Biden joked that he didn’t know which Republican to root for, though he didn’t refer to any by name.
In his session, Obama defended his global leadership against a chorus of GOP attacks from Trump and other presidential candidates. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the leading Democratic presidential hopefuls, have also voiced their opposition to the accord.
It is far more likely that Democrats could recapture control of the Senate where Democrats need to win just three additional seats to secure a majority.
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“If we stay true to those principles”, Obama said, “our party is not just going to have a good year, America will have a good year”.
