Joe Biden focused more on the coronavirus pandemic than on primary wins over his last main rival, Bernie Sanders, in two major states — a sign that the inevitable nominee is positioning himself as an alternative to President Trump.
“In keeping with the latest guidance from the CDC against gatherings of more than 10 people, I’m speaking to you from my home in Wilmington, Delaware,” Biden said in a livestream Tuesday evening, appearing nearly 40 minutes later than scheduled and wearing a green tie for St. Patrick’s Day. He added that the crisis “is a moment when we need our leaders to lead.”
The former vice president won decisively in Tuesday’s Florida and Illinois primaries and is favored to win in Arizona’s contest as well. That will stretch his nominating delegate lead so much that a Sanders path to winning the Democratic presidential nomination is not only a long shot, but is nearly prohibitive.
Biden acknowledged that he will almost certainly be the Democratic presidential nominee. “Our campaign has had a very good night. We moved closer to securing the Democratic Party’s nomination for president,” Biden said.
He offered a conciliatory tone toward Sanders in a way that seeks to woo his supporters, sounding more like a candidate who officially became the Democratic presidential nominee rather than one still competing against a final rival.
“Sen. Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision,” Biden said.
He said to supporters of the Vermont senator: “I hear you. I know what’s at stake. I know what we have to do. Our goal as a campaign and my goal as a candidate for president is to unify this party,” adding that Sanders has “shifted the fundamental conversation in this country.”
“It’s moments like these that we realize we need to put politics aside and work together as Americans,” Biden said.
