Former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday praised Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for having a “significant” influence on American politics and said he hopes the progressive senator will play a role in his own campaign if he should be the Democratic nominee.
Speaking on NBC's “Today,” Biden reiterated his commitment to picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate. But he said that he's spoken to Sanders recently and that he wants him to be a part of his presidential “journey.”
“Bernie has an incredible following,” Biden said. “He's maybe one of a half-dozen people in American history who may not be the nominee but has had an impact on American politics in a significant way, in a positive way.”
“If I'm the nominee I can tell you one thing – I would very much want Bernie Sanders to be part of the journey. Not as a vice presidential nominee, but just in engaging in all the things that he's worked so hard to do, many of which I agree with.”
Biden is still determined to have a female running mate but he wants Sanders to be part of his campaign. Biden not only understands how important it is to have a united Democratic Party, he’s also showing that he takes Sanders and his supporters seriously and he wants them to have a voice.
Sanders isn’t the only big name Democrat Biden’s supporters want him to team up with:
Joe Biden has said that he's started discussing with his advisors who he would ask to join his administration if he goes on to defeat President Donald Trump in November.
His donors, on the other hand, have been privately floating some names that they hope to see become advisors for the campaign or even join a Biden White House, particularly as the coronavirus rattles the economy, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The people declined to be named because discussions were in private.
According to the people, the names being discussed by donors and supporters alike include Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink; Blackstone Executive Vice Chairman Tony James; Mark Gallogly, the co-founder of investment firm Centerbridge Partners; and Roger Altman, the founder of Evercore, among others.
Gallogly and Altman have helped Biden raise campaign cash throughout the 2020 election cycle, while James backed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg when he was in the race for president.
If Biden doesn't choose Harris as his running mate, some privately said that she should be attorney general. Warren could be a key campaign economic advisor, others said. Fink would be a great pick for Treasury secretary, while Gallogly and James could be strong players in that department as well, these people noted.
And Rep. John Lewis (D. GA-05) is onboard with Biden’s campaign:
