On Wednesday night, 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) expressed support for progressive rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and hinted at considering her for a post in his administration were he to win the race.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow held an interview with Sanders, during which she brought up the Washington Post’s report on the contacts between his surrogates and that of Warren’s after the Massachusetts senator suffered a devastating Super Tuesday.
Sanders confirmed that he had spoken to Warren and had a “very cordial discussion” with her earlier on Wednesday, but declined to provide details.
“It was a private conversation,” he said. “But I think Senator Warren has worked really hard over the last year.”
The Vermont senator condemned the “ugly, personal attacks” against Warren from some of his supporters, and said he was “absolutely aghast and disgusted with any kind of vitriol online.”
He went on to highlight the similarities between the Massachusetts Democrat and himself, asserting that while they have “a nuance of difference” on their progressive policies, “essentially she has run her campaign in the way that we have.”
When Maddow asked Sanders if he would consider making Warren his running mate, the Vermont senator demurred.
“It’s too early to talk about that,” he said. “But certainly I have a lot of respect for Senator Warren and would love to sit down and talk to her about what kind of role she can play in our administration.”
After failing to win any of the Super Tuesday states, including her home state, Warren ended her campaign on Wednesday. According to the Post, both Sanders and Joe Biden’s surrogates have courted Warren for a potential endorsement should she decided to end her campaign.
Watch Sanders below:
Sanders on Warren: “She's now assessing where she wants to go, and she deserves the time and the space to make that decision.” pic.twitter.com/RiE58glWbq
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) March 5, 2020
Sanders praises Warren, says "essentially she has run her campaign in the way that we have." pic.twitter.com/sHvbhZm4qR
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) March 5, 2020
This post has been updated.
