Ossoff thanks Sanders for endorsement, but won’t reciprocate

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By David Ian Klein November 30, 2020

During a CNN interview Sunday, Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff thanked Sen. Bernie Sanders for supporting him in his run-off race against Republican incumbent Sen. David Perdue — but wouldn’t return the favor.

“I appreciate the senator’s support, and Iook forward to working with him to fight for a $15 minimum wage, to put the interests of working families ahead of corporate lobbyists in Washington, to address this climate crisis, invest in clean energy and look out for ordinary people for a change, instead of people who have bought access to power in Washington,” Ossoff said.

Ossoff evaded the question of whether he would endorse Sanders as labor secretary, or whether he’d like Sanders to campaign with him in Georgia.

“I’m not making recommendations to the administration on cabinet picks,” Ossoff said.

The 79-year-old Democratic Socialist has been a divisive figure in the Democratic party, and while he has energized some of the party’s youth and left flank, his support may be a liability in a traditionally red state like Georgia.

Regardless, Ossoff was quickly attacked by Perdue for any association with Sanders, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Perdue campaign sent out a statement accusing Ossoff of “casually praising radical socialists and their dangerous agendas”

David Ian Klein covers breaking news and international Jewish communities for the Forward. You can reach him at [email protected] and on Twitter @davidianklein.

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