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Jill Biden: 'America missed an opportunity' when Joe didn't run for president

Dr. Jill Biden spoke with TODAY's Natalie Morales about her husband's decision not to run for president and looks to the future when his term is done.
/ Source: TODAY

In an exclusive interview with Natalie Morales on TODAY Friday, Dr. Jill Biden reflected on the decision by her husband, Vice President Joe Biden, not to run for president.

"Well, you know, I say every day, I really do feel that Joe would've made a great president,'' Biden said. "I think he has the character, I think that he's a convener. I think that one of his strengths is compromise. And so I feel, you know, maybe America missed an opportunity. I don't know. It just wasn't the right time."

Joe Biden announced in the fall that he would not seek the Democratic nomination as the family mourned the death of their son Beau, 46, the former Delaware attorney general who died in May 2015 after a battle with brain cancer.

Dr. Biden spoke with Morales as part of a trip to Fort Riley in north central Kansas to highlight the unique needs of military families, a cause Biden is passionate about.

During the trip, Biden also spoke about what she is looking forward to doing after her husband is done with his term as vice president. While she said she will miss "the excitement" of being in office and will always remember impactful trips to places like the Congo, there are some parts of her life she will be happy to reclaim.

"I think I'll be glad to leave behind the fact that I haven't driven a car in eight years,'' she said. "It will be nice to have a little bit of independence again."

There also will be one member of the Biden family running in 2017. Morales asked Dr. Biden what she will be doing the day after Inauguration Day.

"I will be putting on my sneaks and going for a run alone,'' she said with a smile.

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