Behind AOC's Sanders endorsement
After throwing her support behind Senator Bernie Sanders in the race for the democratic nomination and drawing tens of thousands of onlookers to a weekend rally, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked by CBS why, as a young women of color, she was backing an old, white guy.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, SAYING:
"I'm actually very excited about this partnership because it shows what we have to do in our country, is that we have to come together across race, across gender, across generation.
The congresswoman announced her support as Sanders struggles to regain his footing after a recent heart attack and to battle back from a surge in support for presidential hopeful and rival Senator Elizabeth Warren.
AOC - as she is known - acknowledged that she considered backing Warren, but went with Sanders.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) OCASIO-CORTEZ SAYING:
"Frankly Senator Sanders, Senator Warren and myself are all on the same team in the party."
While AOC dismissed the idea that she could be Sanders running mate:
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) REP. OCASIO-CORTEZ SAYING: "I think I am too young."
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: "What she said"
Sanders was emphatic that Ocasio-Cortez could be an asset to his administration, should he win the office.
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) BERNIE SANDERS:
"Yes you would!"
(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) OCASIO-CORTEZ SAYING:
"Well I guess I know you'll ask."
AOC volunteered for Sanders' campaign in 2016 and in her endorsement speech she said it was because of Sanders and that experience that she decided to launch her long-shot campaign for Congress.
