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Sanders Refocusing His Campaign After Biden's Super Tuesday

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - His front-runner status slipping, Bernie Sanders refocused
   his Democratic presidential campaign on surging rival Joe Biden as the
   Vermont senator's allies grappled with the fallout from a Super Tuesday
   stumble that raised internal concerns about the direction of his White
   House bid.
   Sanders targeted Biden's record on trade, Social Security and
   fundraising just hours after billionaire Mike Bloomberg suspended his
   campaign and Elizabeth Warren confirmed she was privately reassessing
   her future in the race. The dramatic shifts Wednesday signaled that the
   Democrats' once-crowded nomination fight had effectively come down to a
   two-man race for the right to face President Donald Trump in November.
   Sanders declared himself ``neck and neck'' with Biden as he faced
   reporters in his home state, Vermont, one of just four states he
   captured on the most consequential day of voting in the party's 2020
   primary season. Biden won 10 states, assembling victories that
   transcended geography, race and class.
   "What this campaign, I think, is increasingly about is, Which side are
   you on?" Sanders said.
   The progressive candidate lobbed familiar attacks against the former
   vice president's record but ignored supporters' calls to be more
   aggressive and insisted his campaign would avoid any ``Trump-type
   effort'' that included personal criticism.
   "I like Joe. I think he's a decent human being," Sanders said. "Joe and
   I have a very different vision for the future of this country."
   Biden told reporters he would unify the country and, without naming
   Sanders, knocked the senator's frequent contention that he is beholden
   to an elite party establishment.
   "The establishment are all those hard-working people" who voted on
   Tuesday, Biden told reporters in West Hollywood, California.
   Elected officials and leading donors rallied around Biden after his
   Super Tuesday romp. Top Democrats have long been skeptical of the
   77-year-old lifelong politician's political strength but raced to unite
   behind him to blunt Sanders' rise.
   After suspending his campaign, Bloomberg became the fourth failed
   Democratic presidential contender this week to endorse Biden. Like the
   growing chorus of Democratic officials, Bloomberg called Biden the best
   chance to defeat Trump in the general election.

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