In a surprise move on Monday, April 13, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) publicly announced his endorsement of Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential elections. A livestream from Sanders paired the former candidate rivals as they declared the two campaigns were joining to make sure President Donald Trump doesn’t get re-elected.

Sanders’ intentions were clear. Blasted across the livestreaming website is the following message:

“We must come together to defeat the most dangerous president in modern history. I’m joining @JoeBiden’s livestream with a special announcement.”

Sanders added, “I will do all that I can to make that happen.”

On April 8, Sanders suspended his campaign but did not drop out of the race, instead encouraging his supporters to continue voting for him. Now, just five days later, the former candidate waves the white flag and throws all his support to the former VP.  The endorsement is a boon for Biden, giving him more time to reach voters that might be on the fence. Plus, with Bernie’s approval, there’s opportunity to snag some of his supporters to the Biden cause.

Now the two sound like best buds ganging up on the schoolyard bully. As Sanders asked everyone to vote for Biden, saying “we need you in the White House,” the pair took the opportunity to try to derail the president, and especially his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic – in between complimenting each other, that is.

Biden thanked Sanders for the endorsement, promising, “If I am the nominee, which it looks like now you just made me, I am going to need you, not just to win the campaign, but to govern.”  A socialist governing America — not a pleasant image.

Apparently, the pair had been in talks over recent weeks, their staffs creating “task forces” to work on serious issues Americans are facing right now. Some of the concerns addressed include health care, criminal justice, the economy, immigration reform, climate, and education.

“It’s no great secret, Joe, that you and I have our differences, and we are not going to paper them over,” Sanders said during the live broadcast. “That’s real. But I hope that these task forces will come together, utilizing the best minds and people in your campaign and in my campaign, to work out real solutions to these very, very important problems.”

As the November election date approaches, and Americans still struggle under the pandemic stay-at-home orders, campaigns have adopted a whole new level of strategies. Biden already has braved the new technological world by starting a podcast to attract new supporters. Now with the Bern on his side and the promise to choose a female vice president, Biden and his campaign are gaining some momentum to get over the memory lapses and alleged sexual misconduct speed bumps.

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Read more from Kelli Ballard.

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