Joe Biden also weighed in on the 2016 race, offering criticism of Hillary Clinton’s performance. | Getty Biden encourages 2012 foe Romney to run for the Senate At donor conference, Biden also repeats his criticisms of Hillary Clinton's failed presidential bid

DEER VALLEY, UTAH — Mitt Romney is getting encouragement to run for Senate in 2018 from an unlikely source: Joe Biden.

During a closed-door appearance with Romney here on Friday evening, Biden said Romney should consider a Senate bid. The remark came during the second day of the E2 Summit, an annual Romney-hosted donor conference. Attendees were gathered to hear a dialogue between the two men, who were on opposite sides of the 2012 election.


Romney, according to two sources present, offered little by way of response other than to smile. The audience — filled with Romney contributors and political allies — applauded in response.

There has been considerable speculation that Romney may seek the seat of longtime Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch should he forego reelection. Neither Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who has roots in Utah, nor his aides have denied interest in the seat should it become open. Romney has previously spoken to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about the seat, and earlier this year he met with Hatch.

Biden also weighed in on the 2016 race, offering criticism of Hillary Clinton’s performance. He told the group that he knew Clinton would lose key battleground states a month before Election Day, based on his assessment from having campaigned in those states.

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It is not the first time Biden has tweaked Clinton in recent weeks. During a conference in Las Vegas last month hosted by hedge fund impresario and Trump supporter Anthony Scaramucci, Biden was quoted as saying that he “never” thought Clinton “was a great candidate.”

A Biden spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The former vice president is thought to be open to a 2020 bid for the White House. Biden recently opened a political action committee, allowing him to raise money for Democrats nationwide.

The evening had its share of humor: At one point, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, an old colleague of Biden, offered a roast, playfully making fun of the former vice president’s loquacious nature.