Joe Biden Finally Spoke Publicly About Running for President in 2016

Read: Maybe Joe Biden Really Is Running for President in 2016

On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden gave a speech about the Iran Deal at a synagogue in Atlanta. During the talk, he also wound up making his first public remarks about whether he'll run for president in 2016.

"I'll be straightforward with you," said Biden, looking subdued and somber on CNN. "The most relevant factor in my decision is whether my family and I have the emotional energy to run."

Earlier this year, the Vice President's son, Beau Biden, passed away due to brain cancer.

"Unless I can go to my party and the American people," he said, "and say that I am able to devote my whole heart and my whole soul to this endeavor, it would not be appropriate."

Despite his trepidation, the VP did admit that if he and his family eventually feel strong enough to handle the election process, he "would not hesitate" to run.

"If I were to announce to run, I have to be able to commit to all of you that I would be able to give it my whole heart and my whole soul," Biden said earlier this week during a private call with the Democratic National Committee."Right now, both are pretty well banged up."