Clinton Has Clear Command of Democratic Race

First Read sees “three immediate impacts” to Joe Biden’s decision to forgo a presidential bid:

1. The Democratic race all but becomes a two-person contest between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
2. Hillary Clinton likely will see a bump in the polls: In our NBC/WSJ poll, Hillary’s lead over Sanders is 20 points with Biden in the race (49%-29%); 25 points without him (58%-33%).
3. It frees up President Obama (and other on-the-fence Democrats) to possibly endorse Hillary Clinton before the Iowa and New Hampshire contests.

“While this has been an incredibly unpredictable campaign season so far, those developments will give Hillary Clinton clear command of the Democratic presidential race.”

Kyle Kondik: “The decision by Vice President Joe Biden to pass on the presidential race confirms what would have been true even if he had entered the contest: This is Hillary Clinton’s race to lose.”