Vice President Joseph R. Biden says Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont has an unquestioned authenticity on income gap issues and that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has come up with some “really thoughtful approaches” in that area despite a focus on other things up to now.
“I think that Bernie is speaking to a yearning that is deep and real, and he has credibility on it,” Mr. Biden told CNN. “And that is the absolute enormous concentration of wealth in a small group of people, with the middle class now being able to be shown being left out.”
“It’s relatively new for Hillary to talk about that,” Mr. Biden said. “Hillary’s focus has been on other things up to now. … No one questions Bernie’s authenticity on those issues.”
Mr. Biden had been considering a third run for the White House but said in October he would not seek the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Mr. Biden did say Mrs. Clinton has come forward with some “really thoughtful approaches” to deal with the issue.
“Everybody wants to be the favorite; no one wants to be the prohibitive favorite,” he said. “And so it [was] an awful high bar for her to meet, that she was the absolute prohibitive favorite. I never thought she was the prohibitive favorite. I don’t think she ever thought she was the prohibitive favorite.”
“So I think … everything’s sort of coming down to earth, just settling in,” Mr. Biden said. “But it’s not over.”
Speaking on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday, Mr. Biden said the remarks about income inequality weren’t intended to slight Mrs. Clinton.
“What I meant was for the last five years, she [had] been engaged in foreign policy,” Mr. Biden said.
“Even when income inequality wasn’t as serious as it is today, it was his drumbeat,” Mr. Biden said. “And so that’s what I meant. And she is coming up with some very good ideas, but Bernie is pushing the envelope on this for everyone — for everyone involved.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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