Sanders praises, echoes Biden

By , Ariel Cohen

Published December 20, 2015

After Joe Biden announced he wasn't running for president, Bernie Sanders held an impromptu press gathering next to a New York hot dog stand lauding the vice president.

On one issue, Sanders sides with Biden over front-runner Hillary Clinton. "Sure we have differences of opinion with opponents but I wouldn't use the word enemies," he said. During the first Democratic debate Clinton said that Republicans were her proudest enemy. In the days before his decision not to run, Biden remarked, "I don't think we should look at Republicans as our enemies."

"Joe Biden, a good friend, has made the decision that he feels is best for himself, his family and the country," Sanders said in a statement following Biden's speech Wednesday afternoon. "I look forward to continuing to work with him to address the major crises we face. He understands the need to rebuild the middle class; and to address income and wealth inequality, a corrupt campaign finance system, climate change, racial justice, immigration reform and the need for publicly-funded higher education."

Biden's decision could potentially hurt Sanders by allowing Clinton to consolidate the Democratic establishment vote for herself, or it could help by letting the socialist Vermont senator win more of the anti-Clinton vote.