Biden Embraces Sanders... A Step Leftward from the Center

Sanders Officially Endorses Biden
Progressive Policies Expected Through Six Working Groups Including Economy

Former Vice President Joe Biden (right) and Senator Bernie Sanders
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has officially secured the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders, his competitor in the Democratic presidential primary. Biden, who now encompasses both the moderate and progressive wings, has gained a powerful ally for the general election battle against President Donald Trump, but he also faces the challenge of incorporating many of the progressive camp's demands into his campaign promises.

On the 13th (local time), Sanders made a surprise appearance via video at an online event hosted by Biden and declared his support. He said, "I ask all Americans, Democratic supporters, independents, and Republican supporters to join the campaign for the candidate I support."

Sanders described President Trump as "the most dangerous president in modern American history" and emphasized, "We must make sure that President Trump serves only one term." He added, "We need you in the White House," praising Biden. Biden responded, "I will do my best to make that happen," expressing gratitude for Sanders' endorsement.

Sanders' timeline for endorsing a rival candidate is significantly earlier than in the 2016 presidential primary. According to The Washington Post, during the 2016 primary, Sanders only declared his support for then-candidate Hillary Clinton on July 12 of that year. This time, he announced his support for Biden about three months earlier. This has been seen as strengthening the unification of the three factions within the Democratic Party for the contest against President Trump.

Sanders had announced his withdrawal from the primary on the 8th but did not mention endorsing Biden at that time. He stated he would keep his name on the primary ballot to confirm his support.

For this reason, Biden has been working to secure Sanders' endorsement, recognizing the need to unite the progressive wing, especially among younger voters, in addition to the mainstream Democratic support.

With Sanders' official endorsement, Biden's campaign promises are likely to shift more toward the progressive side than the moderate camp. The Washington Post reported that Biden and Sanders' teams have been collaborating for weeks to form six working groups addressing the economy, education, climate change, criminal justice, immigration, and healthcare. Other major media outlets also reported that Biden's campaign has been in contact with Sanders' camp for several weeks.

Sanders said, "Joe and I have differences, but I hope the working groups find practical solutions to very important issues." In particular, there is a high possibility that his signature policies, such as universal healthcare and free college tuition, will be included in Biden's campaign promises. Biden did not deny this, stating, "We will pursue creative new ideas and proposals."

He also said, "I need you," adding, "This is not just to win the election but to govern the country," calling for cooperation.

Despite the declaration, it remains uncertain whether Sanders will complete the primary race. He did not mention whether he will remove his name from the remaining Democratic primary ballots.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.