Former vice president Joe Biden can now take on President Donald Trump with both hands-free after a friend and rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Monday announced his unwavering support for him in a surprise endorsement.
To cement their new unity, Sanders and Biden agreed to form six task forces to work jointly on policy matters. These working groups will cover the U.S. economy, healthcare, education, criminal justice, immigration and climate change. Biden also told Sanders he'd support a national $15 an hour minimum wage, which remains one of Sanders' signature causes.
Sanders said he needed everyone -- and not only his supporters -- to back Biden and ensure Donald Trump becomes a one-term president.
"Today, I am asking all Americans -- I'm asking every Democrat; I'm asking every independent; I'm asking a lot of Republicans -- to come together in this campaign to support your 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," said Sanders. "I will do all that I can to see that that happens, Joe," vowed Sanders.
"We need you in the White House. I will do all that I can to see that that happens, Joe."
Sanders then condemned Trump a racist, a sexist, a xenophobe and a religious bigot who fumbled the country's initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden was profuse in thanking Sanders for his support and endorsement.
"I want to thank you for that. It's big deal," said Biden. "Your endorsement means a great deal, a great deal to me ... I think people are going to be surprised that we are apart on some issues but we're awfully close on a whole bunch of others. I'm going to need you -- not just to win the campaign, but to govern."
Biden told Sanders he's "looking forward to working with you, pal" and told his fellow chess player he'd "try my best not to let you all down."
Sanders' endorsement came only five days after he suspended his campaign to become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. His endorsement of Biden was inevitable, given the earlier promises by both men to support whoever it was among them that became the party's presidential nominee.
Biden's task now will be to win over the younger and more progressive wing of Sanders' progressive movement that supports him in principle but would like to see Biden adopt more of their policies. Biden has consistently beaten Trump in poll after poll dating back to 2019, and has a better than even chance of unseating Trump on November 3.
Sanders said his endorsement was a surreal end to a hard-fought Democratic presidential primary overshadowed in its final weeks by the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping through the country.
"Not in a million years would we have believed we would be talking to each other in our respective homes, that we could not do rallies, that we could not get out of the house," Sanders noted.
During the Livestream, both septuagenarians also discussed their areas of agreement on Trump's handling of the coronavirus crisis. Biden argued Trump's failed response to the pandemic will hurt young people, who have been Sanders' core constituency.
The two have a close and respectful relationship dating back to Biden's days as a fellow senator.
"We've been friends. We've disagreed, but we've been friends," Biden said.
Sanders added: "I know you are the kind of guy who is going to be inclusive. You want to bring people in -- even people who disagree with you."
As they discussed how to end their Livestream, the two joked that they could get out chess boards and play via video.
"We'll bore everybody for a few hours," Sanders quipped.
