Bernie Sanders says he’s more progressive than Joe Biden

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday said he doesn’t “think there’s much question” that he’s more progressive than Joe Biden in response to the former vice president’s claim he’s the “most progressive” candidate vying for the 2020 Democratic nomination.

“I think if you look at Joe’s record and you look at my record, I don’t think there’s much question about who’s more progressive,” Sanders told ABC in an interview that aired Sunday.

Sanders said the Biden is a “good friend of his” and he’s “not here to attack” him, but juxtaposed their records to bolster his point.

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“Joe voted for the war in Iraq, I led the effort against it. Joe voted for NAFTA and permanent trade relations, trade agreements with China. I led the effort against that. Joe voted for the deregulation of Wall Street, I voted against that,” Sanders said.

Sunday was not the first time Sanders contrasted his record to Biden’s since the former vice president hopped in the 2020 race.

Biden is the 2020 frontrunner at the moment, with a strong lead in recent polling and a solid start in terms of fundraising after declaring a little over a week ago.

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After Sanders dominated the 2020 race among declared Democratic candidates during its early weeks, Biden has emerged as the Vermont senator’s most serious competitor in a field of nearly two dozen presidential hopefuls.

The former vice president, who’s been in public life for decades, has faced criticism in recent months on some of his actions over the course of his long political career — particularly regarding criminal justice and his role in the Anita Hill hearings.

Weeks ahead of his campaign announcement, Biden pushed back against the negative perceptions of his record.

“I’m told I get criticized by the new left,” Biden said at the time during a Democratic fundraiser in Delaware. “I have the most progressive record for anybody running.”