Biden challenges Sanders on ‘consistency’ over DNC rules
March 1, 2020
Former Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday he doesn’t see “a lot of consistency coming out of some of these campaigns” — a jab his top rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the Democratic battle for 2020 delegates.
One day after his much-needed South Carolina victory, Biden criticized the Vermont senator for changing his stance on whether a candidate needs to have a plurality or majority of delegates to win the party nomination.
Sanders, who is leading Biden by 10 delegates, has said that a plurality should determine the nominee at this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. But the Democratic National Committee rules require that the nominee wins the majority of delegates. Four years ago, as an underdog facing down Hillary Clinton, Sanders took the opposite position.
On Sunday, ABC’s “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos asked Biden that if Sanders were to amass a large delegate lead, why shouldn’t he be the nominee?
“For the same reason he didn’t think when Hillary had the most pledged delegates that she should be the nominee,” Biden said. “Don’t you find, George, that there’s not a lot of consistency coming out of some of these campaigns?”
He continued: “I say what I mean, I mean what I say … I think the process is laid out, we should go with the process. But I’m not even certain he’s going to go into this convention with the most delegates.”
.jpg "Bernie Sanders in Virginia Beach")
Sen. Bernie Sanders. | Steve Helber/AP Photo
Biden spent much of his ABC appearance presenting the difference between himself and Sanders, saying he could “win in places I don’t think Bernie can win in a general election.”
Biden’s campaign hopes his South Carolina win boosts his standing in Super Tuesday states and leads to a one-on-one battle with the current frontrunner. Biden raised $5 million over the past 24 hours — the biggest ever 24-hour online haul for his campaign.
Sanders has outraised, outspent and out-polled Biden in major Super Tuesday states like California. But Biden said the senator would have a lot of trouble winning down-ballot races and initiatives if he were at the top of the ticket.
“It is a stark choice. And It's not about whether or not we restore the soul of the Democratic Party, it’s about restoring the soul and unite this country, the whole country.”
Source: https://www.politico.com/
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