Trump: Joe Biden would be a 'dream' 2020 opponent -'Biden ran three times. He never got more than 1 percent and President Obama took him out of the garbage heap'

  • President Trump said he wouldn't mind running against any Democratic speculated to challenge him in two years
  • But he took special digs at former Vice President Joe Biden
  • Trump: 'Biden never by himself could never do anything' 
  • Biden said he'd make a decision on a 2020 bid by January 2019 

President Donald Trump is dreaming of Joe Biden, saying the former Vice President would be his 'dream' Democratic opponent in the 2020 presidential contest.

"I dream about Biden. That's a dream," he told CBS News when asked about the next presidential election.

Then he got in a dig at the former vice president.

'Look, Joe Biden ran three times. He never got more than 1 percent and President Obama took him out of the garbage heap, and everybody was shocked that he did. I'd love to have it be Biden,' Trump said.

President Trump said Joe Biden would be his 'dream' opponent

President Trump said Joe Biden would be his 'dream' opponent

Biden has said he'll make a decision on a 2020 bid by January 2019

Biden has said he'll make a decision on a 2020 bid by January 2019

It's unclear what Trump meant when he said Biden ran three times. The former vice president sought the Democratic nomination in 1988 and 2008 but didn't get it. There was speculation he would throw his hat into the ring in 2016 but he ultimately didn't run that year.

Trump said he wouldn't mind running against any of the Democrats who are speculated to be challengers to him in two years. 

But he took some special hits on Biden. 

"I'd like to run against any one of them, but Biden never by himself could never do anything. President Obama took him, made him vice president and he was fine. But you go back and look at how he succeeded in running, when he ran two or three times, I don't think he ever break - broke one. He was at the one or less level, 1 percent or less level," Trump said.

Biden withdrew from the 1988 contest over allegations of plagiarism. In 2008, Biden left the race after coming in 5th place and capturing less than 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses. Obama eventually tapped him to be his running mate.

Biden has said he will make a decision on the 2020 contest by January 2019.

Other Democrats who are said to be mulling bids include Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, California Sen. Kamila Harris,  New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Biden first ran for president in 1988 but dropped out over allegations of plagiarism

Biden first ran for president in 1988 but dropped out over allegations of plagiarism

Biden ran for the Democratic nomination in 2008 but dropped out after doing poorly in the Iowa caucuses; he became Barack Obama's running mate

Biden ran for the Democratic nomination in 2008 but dropped out after doing poorly in the Iowa caucuses; he became Barack Obama's running mate

Biden could appeal to Democratic voters nostalgic for Obama seen here a his 2013 inauguration with singer Beyonce and Biden

Biden could appeal to Democratic voters nostalgic for Obama seen here a his 2013 inauguration with singer Beyonce and Biden

Biden plans to ramp up his public appearances this fall and campaign for Democrats up to four days a week after Labor Day, The New York Times reported earlier this month.

He has popped up on the campaign trail in the past year, helping out Conor Lamb in his special election for Pennsylvania House seat in March and Doug Jones for his Senate special election in Alabama in December. 

Some Republicans are said to fear Biden on the campaign trail most of all. He has a strong appeal to the type of blue collar voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio who put Trump into office.

His age could be a factor. Biden will be 76 years old next year. Trump just turned 72.

But the former vice president has a compelling personal story. A a son of Scranton, Pa., he lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident shortly after he was elected senator from Delaware in 1972. His sons Beau and Hunter survived. Biden went on to marry Jill Jacobs and have another daughter.

His son Beau died of brain cancer in May 2015, one of the reasons Biden cited in his decision not to run in 2016.

He could also appeal to Democratic voters nostalgic for Obama.

But he has a long Senate record for opponents to pick through and a tendency to speak first that has gotten him into trouble in the past. 

Biden opted not to run in 2016 but campaigned for Hillary Clinton

Biden opted not to run in 2016 but campaigned for Hillary Clinton

Trump said 'Biden never by himself could never do anything'

Trump said 'Biden never by himself could never do anything'

Biden was one of the many voices criticizing Trump in the wake of his Monday press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin where the president said he believed Putin's denial of Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election over the assertions from U.S. intelligence agencies that it happened.

"He embraced our number one adversary, blamed America rather than Russian aggression for the deterioration in our bilateral relations, trashed his own justice department, and put Putin’s word above that of our own intelligence community whose leaders he appointed," Biden said in a statement.