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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 16 May 2019

Bernie Sanders zeros in on Joe Biden as his favorite foil

By JUANA SUMMERS “The challenge is that this progressive, particularly on brand, arguing that “we campaign, said Biden has
Associated Press year there are no candi- environmental and health do need to finish this green the luxury of ignoring Sand-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ber- dates with a claim to out- care policies. He pushed revolution in a way that is ers’ attacks as the race
nie Sanders is quick to slam sider status.” back at a news report that rational” and in a way the right now appears to be
Joe Biden’s past support of “Joe Biden versus about 20
free trade deals and the other candidates.”
Iraq War. “It makes sense that he’s
He is warning him against trying to do it as long as
a “middle ground” ap- he can, but we’re in May
proach to addressing cli- of 2019. It’s going to get
mate change. His cam- rough, which is a good
paign sends fundraising thing because we want a
appeals with a simple, fore- nominee to emerge battle
boding subject line: “Joe tested,” Petkanas said.
Biden .” become Sanders’ In New Hampshire, which
favorite foil. Sanders captured by 22
No one seeking the 2020 percentage points in 2016
Democratic presidential and his campaign views as
nomination has been as vital this year, voters said
aggressive as the Vermont they were wary of the cam-
senator in highlighting epi- paign devolving into politi-
sodes from the former vice cal mudslinging.
president’s past to sow Lori Backman, 55, be-
skepticism in the party’s moaned the ideological
progressive base. tug-of-war, worrying that it
The strategy is reminiscent will ensure Trump’s reelec-
of Sanders’ approach to tion.
the 2016 Democratic pri- “We can’t have the splin-
mary, when he relentlessly tering,” she said, arguing
slammed Hillary Clinton as that any Democrat is better
an establishment pawn. on policy than the current
And it’s a reminder that, In this April 24, 2019, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., administration. “We need a
answers questions during a presidential forum held by She The People on the Texas State University
even when Sanders lags in campus in Houston. Biden has In his nearly three weeks as a presidential candidate , strong message of unity up
the polls, he is often most Associated Press front. That’s how you win.”
comfortable when he’s While Sanders benefited
taking on top Democrats, A Sanders representative he was considering a “mid- nation “can afford.” from running behind Clin-
hoping that such attacks declined to comment. dle ground” on climate For now at least, Biden is ton in 2016, 73-year-old
will energize his most loyal Mark Longabaugh, an ad- policy that prompted sting- keeping his singular focus Marilyn Learner said she
supporters. viser to Sanders’ 2016 cam- ing criticism from Sanders on President Donald Trump, didn’t think Sanders would
That was easy to do in 2016 paign, said the senator and Democratic Rep. Al- a posture that also gives have that same advan-
when he was the sole out- ran then by pitting himself exandria Ocasio-Cortez of him the air of Democratic tage this time if Biden filled
sider candidate taking on against Wall Street, phar- New York. front-runner . the Clinton role.
one of the most recogniz- maceutical drug com- “I was in this area long be- “You will never hear me “Bernie’s ideas were nov-
able names in Democratic panies and the billionaire fore most anybody else speak ill of another Demo- el,” the retired teacher
politics. It could be tougher Koch brothers, who funded was, and I have a record,” cratic candidate for presi- said. “And they’re not nov-
now that he’s a leading conservative causes and he said, calling himself “a dent,” Biden said Tuesday. el now.”
contender for the nomina- campaigns. leader in climate change” How long he can do that, Mike Ward, a 62-year-old
tion who has spent the past Sanders’ critiques of Biden and referring to a 1987 though, is uncertain. With retired postal worker, said
several years building an come as the former vice Senate floor speech dur- the first debates set for Democrats should lay off
organization to support his president is taking the lead ing which he referred to a June, the race will soon one another for the time
candidacy. in many polls, displacing warming Earth as an “exis- move into another phase being but that he under-
“Bernie is trying to rekindle Sanders from the top. tential threat.” in which nearly two dozen stands Sanders’ approach.
the magic of 2016, where For his part, Biden only He said he’ll deliver a ma- candidates seeking the “He’s starting to slip in the
he was the outsider running nods at the tensions with- jor speech on climate is- party’s nomination will try polls,” Ward said.
against a longtime mem- out mentioning Sanders by sues later this month, and to create breakout mo- “And it’s due to Biden
ber of the establishment,” name. he called for an “environ- ments. jumping in the race. That’s
said Dan Pfeiffer, a former Campaigning in New mental revolution.” But he Zac Petkanas, a Democrat- obvious. So, he’s just kind of
senior adviser to President Hampshire this week, Biden also doubled down on his ic strategist who served as scrambling to maintain his
Barack Obama. defended his record as overall pragmatic political an adviser to Clinton’s 2016 standing.”q