Sanders rejects Biden's openness to bipartisan ticket, says 'will not have a Republican as a vice president'
Vermont Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, on Wednesday, said that although it was too early for him to think about whom he would have as his running mate, he was certain that the person will not be a Republican.
The senator made the statement a day after former Vice President Joe Biden, a 2020 Democratic frontrunner, suggested that he was open to having a bipartisan ticket. Biden, during a townhall in New Hampshire on Monday, had made the suggestion after a voter asked him about the possibility. The former vice president, however, acknowledged that he could not think of anyone specific whom he would consider.
Sanders, while speaking to Fox News in Iowa, however, rejected the possibility of having a bipartisan ticket, saying: "I think it is fair to say that I will not have a Republican as a vice president on my ticket, as a vice presidential candidate. I will have somebody who shares my views. I am not aware of too many Republicans who do."
The former vice president, in his suggestion on Monday, had said: "The answer is I would, but I can't think of one now," referring to a question asked by a voter. "Let me explain that. You know there's some really decent Republicans that are out there still, but here's the problem right now ... They've got to step up."
There are other 2020 presidential hopefuls from the Democratic party who have also weighed in on the hypothetical bipartisan ticket. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, in a statement on Tuesday, said that he appreciated the spirit of the idea, saying it would help ease the partisan nature of the country. However, Booker, failed to say whether he would consider a Republican as his running mate.
Booker, while speaking to reporters in Iowa, said: "I think it was great. I literally think it was a great comment. We should not be reflexively partisan."