Biden's Appearance With Gov. Cuomo In NYC Raises Hopes Of Many Democrats
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The political world is reading the tea leaves for hints about Vice President Joe Biden's political plans.
As CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported Thursday, Biden's full day of events on Hillary Clinton's home turf raised eyebrows.
It will take a lot more than a psychic with a crystal ball to predict whether the vice president will jump into the Democratic presidential primary, but his politicking in New York City on Thursday certainly raised the hopes of some Democrats worried about current front-runner Clinton's falling poll numbers.
"(Biden is) a man who could be a New Yorker. He is that strong. He is that bold. He is that progressive. He's that much of a leader," Gov. Andrew Cuomo told the crowd.
MORE: White House, Manhattan DA Pledge $79M To Clear Rape Kit Backlog
Cuomo, a Clinton backer, had high praise for Biden, who joined him at a huge labor rally announcing New York's bid to become the first state in the nation to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Appearing before a crowd of excited union workers is good for a man contemplating a campaign.
"Anyone working 40 hours a week should have a shot at a decent life," Biden said.
Raising the minimum wage is hugely popular with liberal Democrats and labor unions that donate money and manpower to political campaigns, Kramer reported.
Biden's move comes as a new Quinnipiac poll spells trouble for Clinton in Iowa, where she's lost her commanding lead.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders now leads with 41 percent of the vote, while Clinton has 40 percent. Biden, who is currently not a candidate, gets 12 percent.
In a July 2 poll, Sanders had only 33 percent to Clinton's 52 percent. Biden had 7 percent.
The latest poll puts more pressure on Biden to jump into the race because it raises questions about Clinton's electability, Kramer reported.
Clinton has a 76 percent favorability rating among Iowa caucus votes, while Sanders is at 78 percent and Biden 79 percent.
On the question of being honest and trustworthy, Clinton gets 64 percent, while Sanders and Biden come in at 85 and 91 percent, respectively.
Now it may just be a coincidence, but when the vice president's plane landed at LaGuardia Airport he parked right next to a plane emblazoned with the letters T-R-U-M-P. The Donald was not on hand to greet him, Kramer reported.
In addition to a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden was scheduled to be a guest Thursday night on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."