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The
announcement will follow months of speculation over whether
Biden, a Democratic party stalwart and an early leader in
opinion polls, would launch a bid for his party's nomination to
challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.
The announcement video will include footage shot two weeks ago
outside the house where Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania,
the Atlantic reported. Biden's roots in the faded industrial
town of about 77,000 people have fueled his appeal among U.S.
working class voters.
Biden served 36 years in the U.S. Senate representing Delaware
and eight years as vice president under former President Barack
Obama. At 76, he will become the second oldest candidate in the
Democratic primary after Senator Bernie Sanders, who is 77.
His announcement would bring the field of Democratic
presidential hopefuls to 19. Political observers in recent weeks
have wondered if Biden delayed his decision due to recent
allegations from women that Biden made them feel uncomfortable
when he touched them at political events in the past.
Biden responded to the allegations earlier this month by saying
he believed he never acted inappropriately during his many years
in public life.
"I will be much more mindful, and that's my responsibility,"
Biden said in a video posted on social media. "I've worked my
whole life to empower women. I've worked my whole life to
prevent abuse."
In the days after four women came forward with allegations,
sources close to Biden told Reuters that campaign preparations
had not been slowed by the controversy.
NBC News cited multiple officials as saying Biden's advisers are
finalizing plans for the campaign launch this coming week.
(Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by David Gregorio)
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