On Wednesday, 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden became miffed at a reporter who asked about his ongoing feud with Bernie Sanders.
While Biden was trying to leave a campaign stop in Mason City, Iowa, CBS reporter Ed O’Keefe confronted him with questions about his many criticisms of Sanders in an exchange caught on video.
Reporter Questions Biden About His Attacking Sanders
“Yesterday, yesterday, you said you accepted Bernie’s apology. Now you’re attacking him. Why are you doing that? Why wasn’t his apology enough, Mr. Vice President? Why attack Sanders?” O’Keefe asked as he followed the former vice president.
That’s when Biden stopped and spun around to answer O’Keefe. And you could tell he was irritated.
WATCH: After a campaign event in Mason City, Iowa, @joebiden reacts to @edokeefe's question about his ongoing feud with @berniesanders: "Calm down, it's okay." https://t.co/a2hmMbnjnf pic.twitter.com/ymOMWRR2zP
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2020
“Why, why, why, why, why, why, why! You’re getting nervous, man. Calm down! It’s OK!” Biden blared, laying his palms on O’Keefe’s chest as he continued to explain.
“He apologized for saying that I was corrupt,” Biden said, seeming to calm himself down.
“He didn’t mention anything about whether or not I was telling the truth about Social Security,” he said.
Before moving on, Biden gave O’Keefe a fist bump.
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Tension Between Biden and Sanders
The tension between Biden and Sanders was something Obama’s former right-hand man tried to ease after the two 2020 Dems exchanged several quips over Social Security and other matters. Biden recognized that Sanders had apologized to him after one of his supporters wrote that the former veep has a “corruption” problem.
“Sometimes campaign staff gets a little ahead of the candidate,” Biden said, adding, “I accept his apology, and I hope we can argue on the facts.”
Yet, Biden still insisted that he has never supported cutting Social Security.
‘What in the hot mess was that?’ Joe Biden got ‘very close to fully freaking out on’ CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe over question about Bernie Sanders https://t.co/LJvwWI9NGe
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 23, 2020
RELATED: Biden on the Hot Seat: How Many More Gaffes Does He Need to Commit Before He’s Out?
Will ‘Uncle Joe’ Be Able To Keep His Cool?
As the 2020 Democratic primary rolls on and Senator Sanders continues to be in that top tier conversation, expect tension between the outspoken socialist and frontrunner Biden to become more tense, not less.
The Democratic nominee is still not decided. This is still anyone’s game. Joe Biden has everything to lose and Bernie Sanders everything to gain.
In the meantime, we’ll see how cool “Uncle Joe” can remain.