What the Veep? Being Biden

(LIN)  — Ever wonder what it’s like to be Vice President Joe Biden? Want to know what inspires and irks him, or what are his top priorities?

Last week the White House launched a new audio series titled, “Being Biden,” an audio blog all about our dear vice president.

Each post features a still photo. Viewers click to  listen to the audio to learn what was going through Biden’s mind, and how that expands into his role in President Obama’s administration.

His first entry, “The Sportsman’s Ethic,” shows Biden wearing an apron, serving a meal to hunters at an annual dinner that raises money for the needy.

Biden explains that what makes the men in the photo – and sportsmen, in general – special are their ethics. These ethics include how to properly handle and store weapons, and wanting to always help those in the community.

“I know these guys, and I know an awful lot of them. I’ve been doing it for over 30 years. They’re my friends, but the point is they are absolutely, totally responsible,” Biden said.

In the 2-minute narrative, the vice president doesn’t just talk about hunters in Leipsec, Del., where the photo was taken, but he brings up the Newtown, Conn., shooting massacre and Second Amendment rights to own guns.

The “Being Biden” series is just the latest in a string of strategies by the White House to give the vice president a bigger presence alongside Obama. Earlier this year, Biden was a key element in the “fiscal cliff” negotiations as well as a central figure in talks to pass the Violence Against Women Act.

So it should come as no surprise that the first topic of “Being Biden” is centered around the main issue the vice president has focused on this year: gun control.

It is unclear at this time how frequently new “Being Biden” entries will be posted.

Could this be another way to gain exposure for a potential 2016 run? While Biden still hasn’t expressed any indication.

The Web series could also be a sign that Biden is hoping to broaden his reach before a potential 2016 run. Although the vice president has been noncommittal, many think Biden is building visibility now to launch a presidential campaign.

Who knows? Maybe it’s just Biden being Biden. At least now, we’ll have a better idea of what that means.

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What the Veep is a bi-weekly feature about the office of the vice president. Jessica O. Swink is a contributing editor to onPolitix . Join in the conversation on  Facebook and  Twitter .