Sanders gets assist from Ocasio-Cortez against Biden

Bernie Sanders is using Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as a new weapon against Joe Biden in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Sanders appeared at Howard University on Monday night with Ocasio-Cortez, who received a boost from the Vermont Independent when she challenged Rep. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.) in a Democratic primary in 2018.

Ocasio-Cortez — who hasn’t officially endorsed Sanders — is returning the favor by hitting Biden, the Democratic front-runner. The former vice president has soared to the top of polls since entering the presidential race nearly three weeks ago, creating a new challenge for Sanders.

On Monday night, she criticized “middle-of-the-road” climate plans in a clear shot at Biden meant to contrast his centrism with the more liberal policies of Sanders.  

“I’ll be damned,” Ocasio-Cortez began during a rally for the Green New Deal climate plan, “if the same politicians who refused to act [in past decades] are going to try to come back today and say we need a middle of the road approach to save our lives.”