Vice President Joe Biden absolved Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders of any blame for the near riot that broke out among his supporters at the Nevada Democratic convention over the weekend.
While traveling in presidential battlefield state of Ohio to trumpet the Obama administration’s new policy to expand overtime pay Wednesday, Biden said he didn’t blame Sanders for the passion of his followers and their concerns that Democratic Party operatives aren’t treating their candidate fairly.
Asked about the angry protests at the Nevada Democratic convention Saturday, Biden simply said Sanders needs to more forcefully admonish his supporters to act appropriately.
“That’s not Bernie, and what Bernie’s going to have to do if that happens again – he’s going to have to be more aggressive in speaking out about it,” Biden said.
Biden, who decided against jumping into the Democratic presidential contest early last year, made the point that Hillary Clinton continued to campaign against then-Sen. Barack Obama into May and June in 2008.
“I’m confident that Bernie will be supportive if Hillary wins, which the numbers indicate will happen,” he said. “So I’m not worried. There’s no fundamental split in the Democratic Party.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, accompanied him on his travels Wednesday in the state, and Biden didn’t hesitate to endorse the idea of Brown as an ideal running mate for Clinton.
“I think he’d be a great choice,” Biden said, noting that “there’s a lot of really qualified folks for No. 2.”
Biden also underscored the importance of Ohio as a pivotal swing state in the election.
“I was there 23 times the last race,” he said referring to Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
