In bid for unity, ex-rival Sanders backs Biden to challenge Trump

[webfact]

In bid for unity, ex-rival Sanders backs Biden to challenge Trump

By Trevor Hunnicutt and James Oliphant

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden bends back to avoid the hand of Senator Bernie Sanders as Sanders points past Biden during the U.S. Democratic presidential candidates debate at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 20, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Bernie Sanders on Monday endorsed his longtime rival former Vice President Joe Biden, a move aimed at unifying a Democratic Party long fractured along moderate and liberal lines ahead of the election match-up against President Donald Trump.

 

Sanders cited the novel coronavirus outbreak as a reason for the party to come together behind Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee after the progressive firebrand Sanders suspended his White House campaign.

 

Sanders' endorsement during an online campaign event came as Biden's team had already begun reaching out to advocacy groups on the left to enlist their support for the Nov. 3 general election battle against the Republican Trump.

 

Before the pandemic brought the Democratic primary contest to a virtual halt, Biden had built up a commanding delegate edge over Sanders, leading the U.S. senator from Vermont to declare last week he saw no viable path to the nomination.

 

Even so, it remained unclear how soon Sanders, who is especially popular with liberal young voters, would rally behind Biden, whose support comes chiefly from the party’s older moderates.

 

Sanders' quick move to back Biden made for a stark contrast to 2016, when Sanders waited until the eve of the summer Democratic National Convention to support the then-nominee, Hillary Clinton.

 

In the online event, Sanders called on Democrats, independents and Republicans "to come together in this campaign to support (Biden's) candidacy, which I endorse, to make certain that we defeat somebody who I believe ... is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country."

 

Biden responded by terming Sanders "the most powerful voice for a fair and more just America.”

 

With social distancing in widespread effect, Biden has been forced to move the bulk of his campaign to online events and has watched as the global pandemic had relegated the U.S. presidential race to the back burner.

 

The Sanders endorsement gives him a much-needed jolt of energy and attention.

 

As the last two standing in a bruising Democratic primary, Biden and Sanders represented the conflict raging within the party between its moderate and liberal wings, with moderates claiming expansive progressive policies would alienate centrist voters needed to beat Trump.

 

But Biden and Sanders, contemporaries who both have served in the Senate, largely treated each other with civility, even when some on the left wanted Sanders to be more critical of Biden's moderate approach.

 

"We've disagreed," Biden said on Monday, "but we've been friends."

 

Biden said he and Sanders would develop six policy working groups on issues including the economy, education, criminal justice, immigration and climate change to develop solutions to problems the United States faces.

 

Trump's re-election campaign used Sanders' endorsement to argue that Biden had moved too far left.

 

“This is further proof that even though Bernie Sanders won’t be on the ballot in November, his issues will be," Trump's campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement.

 

OLIVE BRANCHES

Biden and his campaign had been reaching out to Sanders and his aides for weeks before he dropped out. Biden and Sanders spoke personally, and Biden had avoided suggesting that Sanders should exit the race, according to a person familiar with that conversation.

 

Biden's campaign also had some lower-level talks with the Sanders campaign that included efforts to make clear that there was room for his ideas in Biden’s general election campaign, according to another person familiar with the matter.

 

That included conversation between a top Biden aide, Anita Dunn, and a counterpart with Sanders, Jeff Weaver. Neither could be reached for comment on Monday.

 

The person said Biden would not be likely to adopt a wide swath of Sanders’ policies wholesale, such as Medicare for All, with which Biden does not agree.

 

Yet in recent days, in a clear bid to woo Sanders' supporters, Biden endorsed expanding access to Medicare, forgiving some student debt and making public colleges free for families making $125,000 or less.

 

Biden's campaign also reached out in recent weeks to progressive groups, including the Sanders-endorsing Working Families Party to court their support, according to people familiar with those conversations.

 

Some activists said they were encouraged both by Sanders’ rapid endorsement, as well as the former rivals' pledge to work together on key issues.

Sarah Audelo, executive director of Alliance for Youth Action, said the new working groups could help prove Biden is willing to bring on advisers with progressive bona fides in areas such as climate change and immigration.

 

But she said the onus remains on Biden to engage young voters who were drawn to Sanders' agenda.

 

“We need to see the vice president making a real effort to bring young voters in,” she said. “It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when candidates say young people won’t vote and then fail to target them."

 

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in New York, James Oliphant in Washington and Joseph Ax in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts; editing by Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis and Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-14

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[DoctorG]

The Bernie Bros have already come out against supporting Biden but they should not have expected anything else.

[Chomper Higgot]

41 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

The Bernie Bros have already come out against supporting Biden but they should not have expected anything else.

Insignificant numbers.

 

The hope of dividing the Progressive vote is fading fast.

 

The last man standing is the guy Trump got himself impeached trying to avoid facing.

[mr mr]

not sure if biden or sanders even know they were in the race to begin with. these 2 fossils have no place in the modern decision making world. biden can barely string together coherent sentences anymore. sanders looks like a freakish mad scientist in a cartoon or something. 

 

these 2 are the best choice to lead a nation and move forward into the future ? smh.

[metisdead]

Some troll posts and replies have been removed. 

[Tug]

The dems are uniting good imo the toughest part of the race will be trying to be heard above trumps slander machine on the issues trumps toast imo

[Paul Henry]

MR MR overlooked that there are three fossils looking to win the presidential vote. Two who know the difference between truth and lies and one who's whole life has been one of lies and deception.

[Pedrogaz]

Trump will slaughter Biden. Biden has so many skeletons in the cupboard, the biggest being that Hunter Biden.

Biden has nothing going for him....no momentum, no excitement, no energy, he's dull...old and dull and creepy.

 

We need either Michelle Obama to run. the Dems can overturn the primary results in their conference where special delegates get votes not tied to candidates. 

 

Joe Biden is a loser, why even field him, he needs to be boiled down for glue.

[Tchooptip]

47 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Trump will slaughter Biden. Biden has so many skeletons in the cupboard, the biggest being that Hunter Biden.

Biden has nothing going for him....no momentum, no excitement, no energy, he's dull...old and dull and creepy.

 

We need either Michelle Obama to run. the Dems can overturn the primary results in their conference where special delegates get votes not tied to candidates. 

 

Joe Biden is a loser, why even field him, he needs to be boiled down for glue.

With Michelle Obama it would look like an MMA fight I would love to be in the front row, OK we have the right to dream LOL ????

[Eric Loh]

40 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Trump will slaughter Biden. Biden has so many skeletons in the cupboard, the biggest being that Hunter Biden.

Biden has nothing going for him....no momentum, no excitement, no energy, he's dull...old and dull and creepy.

 

We need either Michelle Obama to run. the Dems can overturn the primary results in their conference where special delegates get votes not tied to candidates. 

 

Joe Biden is a loser, why even field him, he needs to be boiled down for glue.

This is an unusual time in US politics. The pandemic has exposed the WH mishandling and poor judgement in timely policies. The large percentages of infection and deaths of lower income groups and the black community manifest the widening of income inequality and the need for universal health care. All these issues work to the Dem’s advantage while Trump’s focus on Wall Street and helping the wealthy with generous tax cuts. The approval ratings and the Dems political and moral victory in Wisconsin on Monday night when a liberal challenger upset a Trump backed incumbent to win a State Supreme Court swag by a massive votes may be an indication of the mood swing away from Trump. I wouldn’t write of Biden and a good female running mate so casually. 

[chokrai]

I guess it's too much to hope that Biden will pick Hillary as his VP. To watch Trump demolish both of those corrupt Democrats would be a beautiful thing indeed.

[metisdead]

A post with a comment that Joe Biden has Alzheimers has been removed as he has not been medically diagnosed as having Alzheimers. 

[Thingamabob]

Biden is hopeless. Senile and corrupt, a couple of questions from Trump about the Bidens activities in Ukraine and China and dozy Joe will be finished. Come on Dems, you can surely do better than this !

[Jingthing]

17 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Biden is hopeless. Senile and corrupt, a couple of questions from Trump about the Bidens activities in Ukraine and China and dozy Joe will be finished. Come on Dems, you can surely do better than this !

So you want to beat 45 but think the democratic party could be nominating a candidate better able to beat 45? OK. 

 

However, that's very debatable considering that 45 had clearly hoped to run against someone other than Biden particularly Warren or Bernie. 

 

In any case the race is set. May the one decent human being of the two win. 

Edited April 14, 2020 by Jingthing

[Mavideol]

Why the majority of candidates running for US presidency are over 70 years old = Trump 73 Biden 77 Sanders 78  it looks like the CCP  Xi Jinping 66 Hu Jintao 71 Jiang Zeming 76 when in charge

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Mavideol said:

Why the majority of candidates running for US presidency are over 70 years old = Trump 73 Biden 77 Sanders 78  it looks like the CCP  Xi Jinping 66 Hu Jintao 71 Jiang Zeming 76 when in charge

Yes that does not seem ideal but you're wrong. Those were the top finalists. The majority of those seeking the democratic nomination were much younger but they failed and of course 45 ran virtually unopposed for his nomination. So for better or worse the voters aren't particularly ageist. 

[Baerboxer]

18 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So you want to beat 45 but think the democratic party could be nominating a candidate better able to beat 45? OK. 

 

However, that's very debatable considering that 45 had clearly hoped to run against someone other than Biden particularly Warren or Bernie. 

 

In any case the race is set. May the one decent human being of the two win. 

 

Biden or Trump - geez! I can't imagine a 'decent human being" criteria either one of them would meet.

[Mavideol]

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes that does not seem ideal but you're wrong. Those were the top finalists. The majority of those seeking the democratic nomination were much younger but they failed and of course 45 ran virtually unopposed for his nomination. So for better or worse the voters aren't particularly ageist. 

maybe somebody at the Dems made the wrong call.... just imagine if Biden get elected at the end of his term he will be 81...wonder how much energy an 81 year old president has

[WalkingOrders]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Sanders cited the novel coronavirus outbreak as a reason for the party to come together behind Biden

So if no Coronavirus no endorsement? Wow.... feel the unity!!! Must make democrats feel warm all over. 

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Mavideol said:

maybe somebody at the Dems made the wrong call.... just imagine if Biden get elected at the end of his term he will be 81...wonder how much energy an 81 year old president has

Sure but these are not normal times. Watch who he picks for VP. I guarantee she'll be massively more appealing than Pence. Hint hint. 

[WalkingOrders]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Insignificant numbers.

 

The hope of dividing the Progressive vote is fading fast.

 

The last man standing is the guy Trump got himself impeached trying to avoid facing.

You fell for that huh? Biden can't think straight, and is a liability due is aging mind, and obvious corruption. Dems will pull him any minute now. Or it's gonna be an epic disaster, but honestly I think there is a reason that the candidate is a guy lost in space..... they know whats coming....chalk it as a loss... move on....

[Silurian]

For anybody interested in watching the full Biden/Bernie video...

 

Bernie Sanders Endorses Joe Biden to Defeat Donald Trump

 

[Grumpy John]

The dems had the perfect candidate in Tulsi Gabbard and they just ignored her.  I am a Trump fan but even I could see her assets in the fight taking on the worlds greatest leader.  It would have been a battle royal.   Instead they have a suspect dip sh!t with a propensity to touch little girls and young woman!

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

I can't believe Sanders is the one backing down now. He had the energy, both him and his fervent supporters.

[Kelsall]

The Dems should just forfeit this election and concentrate on getting a non-senile candidate for 2024.

 

With Governors Newsom (D-CA) and Cuomo (D-NY) recently endorsing Trump's coronavirus efforts, as well as the cheering New York crowds when the USNS Comfort arrived a couple of weeks ago, there is strong evidence Trump will take both those states.  Expect a Trump landslide victory in November.

[Jingthing]

16 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

The dems had the perfect candidate in Tulsi Gabbard and they just ignored her.  I am a Trump fan but even I could see her assets in the fight taking on the worlds greatest leader.  It would have been a battle royal.   Instead they have a suspect dip sh!t with a propensity to touch little girls and young woman!

That is so hilarious! Pretty much the only people that were excited about Gabbard were 45 fans for some weird reason that's hard to fathom except for her dark history of extreme homophobia. Democrats don't like her. Personally I found her creepy. So you expect the democrats to nominate someone that 45 fans like but democrats don't? What kind of political fantasy world do you live in? She never had more than 1 percent support. End of. 

Edited April 14, 2020 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

The Dems should just forfeit this election and concentrate on getting a non-senile candidate for 2024.

 

With Governors Newsom (D-CA) and Cuomo (D-NY) recently endorsing Trump's coronavirus efforts, as well as the cheering New York crowds when the USNS Comfort arrived a couple of weeks ago, there is strong evidence Trump will take both those states.  Expect a Trump landslide victory in November.

No we won't. 

A 45 landslide is impossible. 

His only path to victory which is tragically possible is getting about 45 percent of the popular and squeezing by through the electoral college and the usual voter suppression of the poor and minorities. 

[Jingthing]

12 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

I can't believe Sanders is the one backing down now. He had the energy, both him and his fervent supporters.

What's not to believe?!?

He didn't get the votes. 

He didn't even get the youth votes in nearly enough numbers.

He had no mathematically possible path to the nomination.

Not "backing down" as you put it would have been insane. 

When you lose, you lose, and then you move on.

What Bernie can do best for his supporters and indeed the country is try to lobby future president Biden to embrace his issues to a greater degree. I wish Bernie good luck with that as I think the country is ready for the most important one -- universal health care.

[sucit]

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That is so hilarious! Pretty much the only people that were excited about Gabbard were 45 fans for some weird reason that's hard to fathom except for her dark history of extreme homophobia. Democrats don't like her. Personally I found her creepy. So you expect the democrats to nominate someone that 45 fans like? What kind of political fantast world do you live in? She never had more than 1 percent support. End of. 

You're a joke. You really are. Tell yourself whatever you need to. You find Tulsi Gabbard "creepy" but you support Joe Biden. That is some seriously good cool aid you are on, maybe i can even find some. 

[sucit]

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

What's not to believe?!?

He didn't get the votes. 

He didn't even get the youth votes in nearly enough numbers.

He had no mathematically possible path to the nomination.

Not "backing down" as you put it would have been insane. 

When you lose, you lose, and then you move on.

What Bernie can do best for his supporters and indeed the country is try to lobby future president Biden to embrace his issues to a greater degree. I wish Bernie good luck with that as I think the country is ready for the most important one -- universal health care.

Just keep telling yourself whatever you need to.

 

Make damn sure though, that when Trump is elected again you accept responsibility.