Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) warned Democratic voters that nominating a democratic socialist would make it hard to win not just the presidency but down-ballot elections as well.
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Biden said nominating about a progressive candidate — such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) — for president would make it harder for Democrats to win elections across the board.
“Bernie calls himself a Democratic socialist. Now you’ve been around, George, as much as anybody. You going to win with that label? You going to help somebody in Florida win? With the label democratic socialist? Cause it’s going to go all the way down the line.”
Watch the interview below:
Joe Biden to @GStephanopoulos: “I’m not putting the label on Bernie. Bernie calls himself a Democratic socialist. You’ve been around, George, as much as anybody. You’re gonna win with that label?” https://t.co/nPQ57Pvs7t pic.twitter.com/rjcWMAaxtC
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 9, 2020
Biden continued to suggest that voters Mid-Western and Southern states would not be as willing to vote for Democratic candidates if the presidential nominee supports democratic socialistic policies.
However, Biden vowed to “work like hell” to help Sanders win the election if he won the nomination.
“I think it’s going to be incredibly more difficult. I’m not going to say … Look, if I don’t get the nomination, and Bernie gets it, I’m going to work like hell for him. But I tell you what, it’s a bigger uphill climb running as a senator, or a congressperson or as a governor on a ticket that’s called itself a democratic socialist ticket.”
Presidential contender Pete Buttigieg (D-Ind.) also voiced concern about the impacts a democratic socialist nominee would have, not just on the Democratic Party, but on the country.
“I think it will be a lot harder,” Buttigieg said of winning the election. “But the bigger concern that I have is further dividing the country.
“You know, when the campaign says that either you’re for a revolution or you must be for the status quo — most of us don’t see where we fit in that picture.”
Watch the video below:
Pete Buttigieg expresses concern that socialist label has chance of "further dividing the country."
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 9, 2020
"When the campaign says that either you're for a revolution or you must be for the status quo—most of us don't see where we fit in that picture." https://t.co/qA6lzBAPAG pic.twitter.com/h4BBmoP0Us
Biden took aim at Sanders last week, after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa Caucus, warning that President Donald Trump “is desperate” to pin the democratic socialist label on all Democratic candidates to use as a foil — and nominating Sanders would help him do that.