Pros, Cons

Where Joe Biden and Paul Ryan Stand at Crunch Time

One man wanted the job his whole life. The other never did. Now they both have decisions to make.
Photorapher: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
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The two men who ran against each other for vice president in 2012 have reached the end of their decision-making at the same time. After a period of private conversations with allies and intense discussions with their families, Vice President Joe Biden has to finally decide if he wants to run for president in a three-month sprint to the Iowa caucuses, and Representative Paul Ryan has to choose whether to stay as the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee or stand for speaker of the House at a time when pronounced divisions within the Republican Party will make the job extraordinarily hard.

Here's how the two compare on the precipice of their decisions.