Vice President Biden worries that his son Beau, the presumptive heir to his old Senate seat, won’t run for it. Harry F. Themal of the Wilmington News Journal describes the junior Biden as “reluctant” to become a candidate. He also reports this exchange with the veep:

Our conversation ended with a surprising request from the vice president as he hurried off to a national security meeting. Spontaneously, he turned to the possible Delaware senatorial campaign of his son Beau.
Biden: “If you run into Beau, talk him into running; he respects you.”
Me: “I don’t think he wants to run, though.”
Biden: “I don’t think he does either. I know he doesn’t want to. . . . I’m so proud of the job he’s done [as attorney general].”

Maybe this is just another Biden gaffe, and Beau really will run. But if he doesn’t, it’s another piece of good news for Republicans who are liking their chances in 2010 better every day.

UPDATE: See this.