Vice President Joe Biden is definitely running for President.

Here’s why I know this:

White House spokesman Josh Earnest just heaped praise on Biden, saying that there is “probably no one” who better understands how to win the 2016 presidential race, and that Obama’s choice of Biden as VP indicates the president’s view of Biden’s capability for the presidency.

Biden just hired a new communications director. Like, an hour ago (as of this post).

Top Democratic fundraisers have been invited to meet with Biden at his residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory after Labor Day.

According to multiple recent polls, Biden is polling better than Hillary (against GOP candidates) in a number of key states.

This race is about to get interesting. If Biden runs (which he certainly is going to), then it’s because major players in the Democratic party no longer believe Hillary is likely to win the general election. Considering what some Democratic strategists refer to as her “trustworthiness and authenticity problem,” the number of scandals or quasi-scandals in Hillary’s long public history, and the baggage that comes with being a Clinton, it’s very possible that the party is urging Biden to run.

Since the White House “wouldn’t rule out” an endorsement — and Biden’s unfavorables have consistently been lower than Hillary’s across most of the country — I think it’s fair to say that Hillary’s “lock” on the Democratic nomination has just been broken.