Dems in limbo as Biden's 2020 decision 'a few weeks' away

WASHINGTON (AP) — The political world may have to wait yet another "few weeks" to learn whether one of the biggest names in Democratic politics is running for president.

With frustration mounting about his indecision, former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday teased out themes for a possible presidential candidacy and railed against President Donald Trump as he faced a cheering crowd of firefighters gathered in Washington. After they chanted, "Run, Joe, run!" the 76-year-old Democrat told them to save their energy because "I may need it in a few weeks."

"Be careful what you wish for," Biden added.

And with that, the Democratic presidential primary is effectively in a state of suspended animation. More than a dozen Democrats have already launched formal 2020 presidential campaigns. Biden, who is his party's best-known and best-connected presidential prospect, is not among them. Neither is former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, another Democratic heavyweight who plans to visit Iowa this weekend in the strongest sign yet that he may soon join the 2020 Democratic field.

In a new ad running on social media Tuesday, O'Rourke indicated he's already "made a decision about how I think we can best continue the work we started" and encouraged supporters to sign up for campaign updates.

But until both men make their decisions public, many prospective staffers, donors, and activists are in limbo waiting for the biggest remaining questions about the 2020 field to be answered.

Biden's delay, in particular, has frustrated some Democratic officials — and even some of his own advisers, who expected him to declare his intentions in January. His team has been working to line up support with prospective staff on the ground in early primary states and former colleagues on Capitol Hill...