What if Biden Enters?

SAN DIEGO -- In the recent Democratic presidential debate, the person to watch was at home Biden his time.

After the debate, which had all the intensity and hostility of a suburban book club, media commentators wondered whether there is still room for Joe Biden to join the race.

Even if he decides to get in, it's not like he would make the field any more diverse. Looking at the stage in Las Vegas, I wondered if Democrats were trying to corner the market on white people over the age of 50. You know this is one bizarre election when Republicans have a lineup of presidential candidates that looks more like America.

Whether you think Biden should get into this race has a lot to do with how you feel about Hillary Clinton.

CNN seems to fancy the former secretary of state, and it will defend her. Just as, in the 2008 Democratic primary, it defended Barack Obama against Clinton's attacks. After last Tuesday's debate, the network's reporters, anchors and commentators ushered in the narrative that Biden should sit this one out.

Clinton has the Democratic nomination all wrapped up, they said. Democratic voters have enough choices already, they said. There is no room left for Joe, they said.

On the contrary. The totally forgettable debate performances of Lincoln Chafee, Martin O'Malley and Jim Webb -- coupled with the valentine that Clinton got from Bernie Sanders, who told her that Americans are "sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails" -- suggest that Biden must get into this race.

The vice president needs to run for the good of the party. If the plan was for Democrats to give Clinton some sparring practice to toughen her up before the big fight, they are failing. After several months of campaigning, she still hasn't broken a sweat.

Biden can give Clinton a run for her money with Democratic voters who are looking for someone who is what she isn't -- authentic, trustworthy, likable, loyal to the White House. Biden is a steady and calming force in a campaign that has been chaotic, nasty and unpredictable. And he doesn't generate the personal scandals or drama that Clinton does.

What Biden does seem to generate is fear among the Clintons. It doesn't matter that the Hillary-friendly media is so quick to dismiss the vice president. Because the Clintons won't. They'll go after him with the subtlety of an airstrike.

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