LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Joe Biden snapped back at a Michael Bloomberg campaign video that suggested the former vice president supports Bloomberg’s presidential bid.
“I don’t endorse Republicans,” Biden told the Washington Examiner while walking in a picket line with culinary union workers on Wednesday when asked for his reaction to the video.
Biden’s comment was a reference to Bloomberg’s shifting political affiliation over his years in public office. He switched from being a Democrat to run for mayor of New York as a Republican in 2001, became an independent in 2007, and went back to being a Democrat in 2018.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bloomberg campaign released a video that showed Biden praising the former New York mayor, which was in response to a video from the Biden campaign that highlighted Bloomberg criticizing President Barack Obama.
“I don’t know anyone I’ve worked with in my career,” Biden said in the clip, “who does more to create the future than you, Mike.”
Top Biden aide Kate Bedingfield criticized the Bloomberg campaign for implying that Biden endorsed him.
“Using video and audio to imply you have an endorsement you don’t have. Yep, this tracks,” Bedingfield tweeted Wednesday.
Biden elaborated on his thoughts about Bloomberg to reporters.
“Truth is he’s basically been a Republican his whole life. The fact of the matter is — he didn’t endorse Barack or me when we ran. This is a guy using Barack’s pictures like, you know, they’re good buddies. I’m going to talk about his record,” Biden said.
Bloomberg declined to endorse Obama during his 2008 run.
The tensions between Bloomberg and Biden come ahead of Wednesday night’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas, the first presidential debate in which Bloomberg will be on the stage.
Joe Biden has dedicated his life to this country.
As a senator, and as a vice president, he has always stood by the side of great men.
We are honored to have Joe’s support. https://t.co/b8wjSbvuVO pic.twitter.com/PMqky0rXEC
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) February 19, 2020
