Former Vice President Joe Biden again added to speculation that he's considering a presidential run while speaking to supporters Tuesday.

Biden has not declared his candidacy, but discussion about whether he will announce a campaign for president has grown in the past week. The former vice president, speaking at a gathering of the International Fire Fighters Association in Washington, drew applause when he seemed to hint at his future plans.

Biden told, which had chanted "Run Joe, run" to save its energy, the Associated Press reported.

"I may need it in a few weeks," he said. "Be careful what you wish for."

Biden covered a number of potential campaign themes, the AP noted, including criticizing Trump and Republicans on policies he said favored the wealthy. He also warned of the divisiveness in politics.

“We can’t be divided by, race religion, by tribe. We’re defined by those enduring principles in the Constitution, even though we don’t necessarily all know them. In America everybody gets a shot,” Biden said. “That’s what I don’t think this current president understands at all.”

Opinion:I really like Joe Biden, but he shouldn't run for president

Iowa Poll:Not even in the race, Joe Biden leads Democrats; Sanders close behind

His comments come one day after U.S. Sen. Chris Coons said on "CBS This Morning" that he is "confident" Joe Biden is going to run for president and provided some insight into how the former vice president will run his 2020 campaign.

"I'm optimistic he's going to run," Coons, Delaware's junior senator, said on CBS This Morning. "Everything is put in place but that last decision, which understandingly is a big decision."

The New York Times reported last week that Biden's strategist Steve Ricchetti was telling Democrats the former vice president was 95 percent of the way toward deciding to run.

Announcements of members of Biden's inner circle, including daughter Ashley, leaving their jobs last week, also fueled rumors.

Biden is also leading in the polls, despite not being an official presidential candidate. The Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll found that 27 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers say Biden is their first choice for president.

While this is a decrease from 32 percent in December, he's still ahead of the 19 other declared and potential candidates tested, the poll found.

Contributing: Brian Slodysko, The Associated Press