Axelrod: Clinton 'Probably Will Be' Democratic Nominee

Former White House political adviser David Axelrod apparently is putting his money on Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016, but says Vice President Joe Biden will be waiting in the wings should she decide not to enter the race.

"I think that Hillary Clinton probably will be the candidate. If she doesn't run, I think Biden will run," Axelrod said Friday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Axelrod, who engineered President Barack Obama's two presidential victories, said Clinton and Biden "share a view that there is a significant threat" to the nation's national security and that "we do have to be vigilant about it, that we have to do it within the context of respecting our other traditions and the Constitution."

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"But we have to do it," he added.

There has been much speculation about Clinton and Biden candidacies, but neither has said anything definitive about their intentions.

Axelrod, now an MSNBC contributor, has said that Clinton and Biden are the top contenders for the Democratic nomination, even though others will emerge. But his prediction on "Morning Joe" was the closest he has come to saying Clinton will have the nomination wrapped up if she runs, The Hill noted.