Bernie Sanders defends progressive agenda after Biden says AOC would not win 'competitive' race

Comments highlight fierce debate within party over strategy for 2020

Bernie Sanders has stepped in to defend a progressive political agenda after Joe Biden suggested Democrats such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could not defeat Republicans in a competitive race.

In an interview with CNN, Mr Biden said his centre-left approach was more in tune with most of his party, than that of progressives such as the New York congresswoman. He said Ms Ocasio-Cortez was “brilliant” and “bright” but that she had been elected after winning a primary in a Democratic stronghold.

“That’s what this election is about. I’m happy to debate that issue and all those issues with my friends because guess what, look who won the races. Look who won last time out,” said Mr Biden, 76, who remains the party’s 2020 frontrunner but who has seen his lead slip amid questions about his age and whether his policies are out of touch.

“By the way, I think Ocasio-Cortez is a brilliant, bright woman, but she won a primary. In the general election fights, who won? Mainstream Democrats who are very progressive on social issues and very strong on education and healthcare.”

Mr Sanders, on whose presidential campaign Ms Ocasio-Cortez worked in 2016, was quick to defend his political soulmate, who is almost 50 years younger than him.

“I’m proud to be working with @AOC and so many other Democrats to pass Medicare for All, debt free college and a Green New Deal,” said the 77-year-old Vermont senator.

“This is the agenda America needs — and that will energise voters to defeat Donald Trump.”

The spat highlights a fierce debate taking place among Democrats, that somewhat echoes that of 2016, when Mr Sanders led a tough primary challenge to Hillary Clinton, a centrist.

One way in which the situation is different in this election is that a number of proposals Mr Sanders and Ms Ocasio-Cortez have been pushing, such as Medicare for All, have been adopted by many of those seeking the 2020 nomination, including figures such as Elizabeth Warren.

While respected by many in the party, Mr Biden has been under intense scrutiny as Democrats work to select a challenger to Donald Trump. While the former vice president has sought to suggest he is best equipped to defeat the president in 2020, others have questioned whether the ideas he represents are the best strategy.

Mr Biden is almost certainly correct in is comments that his place on the political spectrum is closer to that of more Americans, than Ms Ocasio-Cortez, and he may be closer to more Democrats than she is – something the congresswoman would likely dispute.

“Look, it’s centre left, that’s where I am,” Mr Biden said of the party. “Where it’s not, is way left.”

The New York congressman later resonded to Mr Sanders’ comments. “Thank you, @SenSanders. It’s an honour to work alongside you and the millions of other people fighting for education, healthcare, and a living wage as rights,” she tweeted.