Biden associates resume discussion about presidential run

US Vice President Joe Biden speaks at an event to announce a major reconstruction project of New York's LaGuardia Airport in New York City, July 27, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden's associates have resumed discussions about a possible 2016 presidential run after largely putting aside such deliberations during his son's illness and following his death earlier this year. But Biden has yet to tell his staff whether he will run or personally ask them to do any planning for a potential campaign, according to several people close to the vice president.

Recent conversations between Biden's associates and Democratic donors and operatives have led to speculation that Biden will challenge front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton for the party's nomination, and individuals close to Biden have started looking into what options might be available to him if he were to run, such as potential staff in the early-voting state of Iowa.

Biden is expected to make a final decision as soon as early September, according to those familiar with his plans.

The people close to Biden spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deliberations.

The renewed focus on Biden comes amid some signs of weakness for Clinton, including declines in her favorability among voters in recent polling. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is challenging Clinton for the Democratic nomination, has been attracting large crowds with a liberal economic message, evidence of a hunger within the party for an alternative to Clinton's candidacy.

Biden's entry could fundamentally reshape the dynamics of the Democratic primary elections. Yet Clinton remains enormously popular among Democrats. She has raised nearly $50 million for her campaign.

There are few signs, meanwhile, that Biden is taking solid steps toward launching a campaign. He has had little interaction with a "draft Biden" group pushing him to run, and has yet to look for office space in early voting states or raise money for a potential bid.

Kendra Barkoff, the vice president's press secretary, said Biden was spending his time working on President Barack Obama's agenda, not on planning his own potential presidential campaign.