Biden earns backing from Warren, swing-state Democrats in show of unity against Trump

By Joseph Ax and Amanda Becker

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren talks to reporters outside her house about the end of her campaign for U.S. president after informing her staff that she is withdrawing from the 2020 U.S. presidential race in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Wednesday, delivering another high-profile backing from a liberal former rival as he aims to unify the Democratic Party ahead of a bruising contest with Republican President Donald Trump.

 

Warren, who ended her own bid for the White House last month, gives Biden his third major endorsement of the week. Biden's chief rival, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, endorsed him on Monday after suspending his campaign last week, while former President Barack Obama backed Biden on Tuesday.

 

The rollouts represent a powerful demonstration of party unity seven months before the Nov. 3 general election. The endorsements have given Biden a series of headlines at a time when his campaign is effectively on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak - and when Trump has captured media attention with his combative White House briefings.

 

In recent weeks, the more moderate Biden has made overtures to liberal backers of Sanders and Warren. After Sanders' departure from the race, Biden's campaign shifted left on two of the Vermont senator's top priorities, student debt and healthcare. The two men said during a joint video appearance on Monday that they would create working groups to address major policy areas.

 

Biden also adopted Warren's sweeping plan on bankruptcy, a striking move given that the two rivals had clashed for more than a decade over 2005 legislation that Biden, then a U.S. senator, backed making it harder to file for bankruptcy protection.

 

Biden and Warren have had several calls since she ended her campaign, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

 

In the video on Wednesday, Warren noted she didn't agree with Biden all the time but praised his willingness to adapt.

 

"One thing I appreciate about Joe Biden is he will always tell you where he stands," she said. "When you disagree - he'll listen. ... And he's shown throughout this campaign that when you come up with new facts or a good argument, he's not too afraid - or too proud - to be persuaded."

 

Three Democratic U.S. senators from states expected to be crucial in November, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan, also endorsed Biden on Wednesday. Trump narrowly won both states in 2016, the first time either had voted for a Republican in decades.

 

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff from California, who played a prominent role in Trump's impeachment proceedings, also backed Biden on Wednesday.

 

By contrast, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading progressive from New York who had previously backed Sanders in the 2020 race, said on Wednesday she wanted to see Biden refine his stances on issues including healthcare and immigration before endorsing him.

 

'EMPATHY MATTERS'

Biden's push to bring the Democratic Party together got a big lift on Tuesday from Obama, who in his video endorsing his former vice president made sure to reach out to progressives himself.

 

At one point, Obama adopted Warren's signature language, calling for real "structural change" in the country and talking about how the U.S. economy is not working for all.

 

Both Obama and Warren emphasized Biden's empathy at a time of crisis, seeking to draw a contrast with Trump, whose response to the coronavirus outbreak has been criticized at times as uncaring.

 

Warren noted Biden's humble beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the "unspeakable tragedy" he faced - a reference to the 1972 car accident that killed his first wife and infant daughter.

 

"These experiences animate the empathy he extends to Americans who are struggling - no matter what their story," Warren said. "Empathy matters.

 

And, in this moment of crisis, it's more important than ever that the next president restores Americans' faith in good, effective government."

 

When she announced the end of her campaign, Warren expressed her disappointment that she was unable to carve out a middle ground between Sanders' unapologetic democratic socialism and Biden's moderate positions.

 

Despite efforts by both camps to secure her backing, she elected not to choose between them, waiting until Sanders ceded the nomination before officially endorsing Biden.

 

Warren is seen as a possible vice presidential candidate for Biden, who has promised to select a woman and has said he will consider his former rivals for the nomination. But the ideological gaps between them - her backing of a government-run single-payer healthcare system, for instance - could prove an obstacle.

 

(Reporting by Joseph Ax in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and Amanda Becker in Washington; Additional reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-16

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If Biden is smart he will pretend to not even know who Warren is. She doesn't bring any money and her message is way off especially now during the pandemic. The idea of taxing companies to death when they are already on the edge is over. 

 

The corporations have been the only thing holding America together right now. Amazon is doing the emergency deliveries not the USPS. 

After Obama publicly endorsed Biden, the rest will follow in no time.....

  

2 minutes ago, rasmus5150 said:

After Obama publicly endorsed Biden, the rest will follow in no time.....

There are none left. She's the last one. The democratic party is massively UNIFIED. The goal -- evict 45. It's a referendum on 45 and now mostly about his atrocious narcissistic response to Covid. He's in trouble and he knows it. Just look at Wisconsin. 

 

Of course endorsements from republicans are always welcome too!

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/15/weve-never-backed-democrat-president-trump-must-be-defeated/

 

Quote

 

We’ve never backed a Democrat for president. But Trump must be defeated.

 

 

This November, Americans will cast their most consequential votes since Abraham Lincoln’s reelection in 1864. We confront a constellation of crises: a public health emergency not seen in a century, an economic collapse set to rival the Great Depression, and a world where American leadership is absent and dangers rise in the vacuum.

Today, the United States is beset with a president who was unprepared for the burden of the presidency and who has made plain his deficits in leadership, management, intelligence and morality.

 

 

Edited April 15, 20206 yr by Jingthing

1 hour ago, Cryingdick said:

The corporations have been the only thing holding America together right now.

Righty-o.

 

 

Warren’s endorsement will help bridge left wing support into Biden’s campaign.

 

I hope Biden responds by giving her a Cabinet position, she’s got some great ideas.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Warren’s endorsement will help bridge left wing support into Biden’s campaign.

 

I hope Biden responds by giving her a Cabinet position, she’s got some great ideas.

Warren was always my No 1. The most intelligent DEM in the race by a country mile. Sadly there is this huge anti intellectual streak running through US politics, mirrored by Gove and his "Don't listen to experts" line in the UK. Oops along comes Covid 19 and Trump's response is to award himself a professorship in epidemiology and run a braggart TV show funded by the taxpayers money. No surprise the Dems have come together to fight such an evil, the US deserves better. 

Troll post and replies removd

Yup and even republicans backing Biden everyone’s tired of the embarrassment the trolling the lying and just plane incompetence of this administration 

Speaking of Republicans endorsing Biden. Members of the advisory board of the Lincoln Project posted their support/endorsement in the Washington Post.

 

We’ve never backed a Democrat for president. But Trump must be defeated.

 

Quote

Biden is now the presumptive Democratic nominee and he has our support. Biden has the experience, the attributes and the character to defeat Trump this fall. Unlike Trump, for whom the presidency is just one more opportunity to perfect his narcissism and self-aggrandizement, Biden sees public service as an opportunity to do right by the American people and a privilege to do so.

 

6 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

If Biden is smart he will pretend to not even know who Warren is. She doesn't bring any money and her message is way off especially now during the pandemic. The idea of taxing companies to death when they are already on the edge is over. 

 

The corporations have been the only thing holding America together right now. Amazon is doing the emergency deliveries not the USPS. 

Taxing the RICH is the plan though! Having rich people who can afford a fair portion more. I am confident he will choose a winner and can't wait to see Pence get destroyed at the debate.

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Warren’s endorsement will help bridge left wing support into Biden’s campaign.

 

I hope Biden responds by giving her a Cabinet position, she’s got some great ideas.

 

She's another serial liar.

 

Ah, sorry, forgot. She's left wing so her lies are acceptable to you.

Wow!

 

Such a young country but one that has given the world so much.

 

With all that talent, innovation and creativity the best that can come up with is Dubious Donald versus Creepy, Sleezy, Pervy Joe.

 

As Hamlet would say, "Something rotten in the state.................................

 

Come on USA, surely you can do better than this?

 

Vald and Xi must be pissing themselves laughing.

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

She's another serial liar.

 

Ah, sorry, forgot. She's left wing so her lies are acceptable to you.

Clearly you accept that Trump is a serial liar, the evidence is so widespread you would have to be blind and deaf to avoid it. 

Warren though, the occasional exaggeration maybe, a change of mind when new facts emerge from time to time no doubt. but a SERIAL LIAR, what colour is the sky on your planet. 

 

Vlad was already pissing himself laughing when he got Trump elected. BTW.

 

2 minutes ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Warren though, the occasional exaggeration maybe, a change of mind when new facts emerge from time to time no doubt. but a SERIAL LIAR

 

Every single Democrat running is a serial liar up to and including Obamas endorsement video for Joe Biden. 

 

Lie, divide, trample on the bill of rights and the constitution, cheat, tax & spend no-budgeting frauds the lot of them. 

Besides, how the heck is the left going to prop Biden's soggy corpse up and have coherent debates? Hes completely losing it, been shielded from the media for weeks and only speaks from a prompter (which he still messes up). 

 

It'll be interesting. 

11 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Besides, how the heck is the left going to prop Biden's soggy corpse up and have coherent debates? Hes completely losing it, been shielded from the media for weeks and only speaks from a prompter (which he still messes up). 

 

It'll be interesting. 

He's not 45. That's all that matters.

 

Next … 

11 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Every single Democrat running is a serial liar up to and including Obamas endorsement video for Joe Biden. 

 

Lie, divide, trample on the bill of rights and the constitution, cheat, tax & spend no-budgeting frauds the lot of them. 

Not blue then!!

 

BTW Obamas endorsement video is not running for the Democratic nomination, which has - to all intents and purposes- already happened. Please try and keep up.

16 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Besides, how the heck is the left going to prop Biden's soggy corpse up and have coherent debates? Hes completely losing it, been shielded from the media for weeks and only speaks from a prompter (which he still messes up). 

 

It'll be interesting. 

When trump trolls him on stage and Biden turns quickly and trump jumps back like the coward he is, I will laugh good.

Edited April 16, 20206 yr by earlinclaifornia

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

He's not 45. That's all that matters.

 

Next … 

Yes, I'm sure that when Biden forgets where he is and what he's doing during the debates, people will just ignore it and vote for him anyway. Do you realize how insane that logic is??????

4 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

When trump trolls him on stage and Biden turns quickly and trump jumps back like the coward he is, I will laugh good.

You're taking a huge risk believing Biden can stay lucid enough to pull something like that off. His latest gaffe? His talk about "COVID-9". LOL

Is TV forum a media show for the Dems??  When are any of the positive news stories about GOP and Trump ever going to be posted?  Is this really an 'echo chamber' as has been claimed by many other GOP/Trump supporters.  Hey - if TV need to know where to find many of them I can point the direction - there are heaps.

8 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

When trump trolls him on stage and Biden turns quickly and trump jumps back like the coward he is, I will laugh good.

 

What a delusional thing to daydream about. 

2 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

Is TV forum a media show for the Dems??  When are any of the positive news stories about GOP and Trump ever going to be posted?  Is this really an 'echo chamber' as has been claimed by many other GOP/Trump supporters.  Hey - if TV need to know where to find many of them I can point the direction - there are heaps.

The people who pick the stories for TVF are obviously leftists. Note this is NOT commenting on moderation, which is an entirely different issue and would be breaking the rules to comment on.

I wonder if they will give Biden a Nobel Peace Prize like the one they gave to Obama?  Obama got his because he wasn't Bush. Biden will get his because he isn't Trump. He should probably get two...

4 minutes ago, gargamon said:

I wonder if they will give Biden a Nobel Peace Prize like the one they gave to Obama?  Obama got his because he wasn't Bush. Biden will get his because he isn't Trump. He should probably get two...

So Nobel prizes are given for NOT doing something or NOT being someone? No wonder less and less people take these silly prizes seriously.

19 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

The people who pick the stories for TVF are obviously leftists. Note this is NOT commenting on moderation, which is an entirely different issue and would be breaking the rules to comment on.

Gotta agree - I cannot remember the last positive GOP or Trump story - not one.

18 minutes ago, gargamon said:

I wonder if they will give Biden a Nobel Peace Prize like the one they gave to Obama?  Obama got his because he wasn't Bush. Biden will get his because he isn't Trump. He should probably get two...

I read something a while ago from a member of the Nobel board whop said they made a mistake and were caught up in the politics. He admitted they were all liberals and left their hearts rule their minds - like we know they always do - emotions first for them - logic irrelevent.

 

21 minutes ago, gargamon said:

I wonder if they will give Biden a Nobel Peace Prize like the one they gave to Obama?  Obama got his because he wasn't Bush. Biden will get his because he isn't Trump. He should probably get two...

We will have to wait and see how President Biden performs in office. I wouldn't be expecting any Nobel prize for him but you never know. It's widely acknowledged even by Obama that his prize was absurdly timed and way premature. He wouldn't have gotten one if they had waited. They make mistakes. Obama's main accomplishments were bringing us out of a severe financial crisis that he inherited (led by Biden, which many people don't realize), Obamacare, the Iran nuclear deal, and same sex marriage (which was led by Biden, which many people don't realize). He failed at making peace with the Islamic world which Is the reason he got the Nobel prize. They thought he would. Didn't happen.

The trolls sound more desperate by the hour lol imo trump won’t debate he will weasel out(no offense to the weasel) facts and truth are his enemies anything above sandbox bulley is beyond him imo