White House Disputes Claim Obama Mulled Dumping Biden

Reported in a new book

White House spokesman Jay Carney praised Vice President Biden on Friday, seeking to knock down a report that some of President Obama's aides may have wanted to replace him with Hillary Clinton for the 2012 election.

"What I can tell you, without a doubt, is that the president never considered that," Carney said. "And had anyone brought that idea to him, he would have laughed it out of the room."

Carney cited Biden's role in promoting the stimulus bill, withdrawing U.S. troops in Iraq, and handling budget negotiations on Capitol Hill. The spokesman praised Biden's performance during the 2012 campaign, including his debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.