In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders outlined why he believes presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ‘has a chance to be the most progressive President since FDR'. Sanders tells CNN he believes factors such as the Trump Administration's response to COVID-19 and racial injustice has led to a greater sense of unity between Democrats, alongside Biden working with progressive task forces in the run up to the election. Sanders also explains why he believes some Republicans will move their support to Biden, telling Amanpour: "We have to have a President, when you turn on the television and you see him, you're not embarrassed." Here are the excerpts; On unity across the Democratic spectrum in defeating President Trump in 2020: "I think there is an understanding of all Democrats, independents and a number of Republicans that Donald Trump is the most dangerous president in the history of this country, that he is threatening the very foundations of American democracy, that he rejects science, that he's a pathological liar, that he's a racist and a sexist. And I think just that factor alone, among many other things, is bringing the American people together to say, this guy cannot be re-elected." On the conditions that have led to a shift towards more progressive policy: "We're looking at the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression. We are looking at millions of people demanding that we address the systemic racism that is so prevalent in American society. People want change. And I was very delighted that the vice president agreed to work with our campaign in putting together six separate task forces dealing with the major issues of our country. And I think we hammered out some agreements which will make, in my view, Joe Biden a very progressive president, if he, in fact, implements what has been written." On why he believes Biden could be the most progressive President since FDR: "The reason I say that I think that Biden has a chance to be the most progressive president since FDR is, that is exactly what Joe Biden said to me. And I think he has said that publicly. He understands the severity of this moment. We have tens of millions of people who have lost their jobs, lost their health care, people who are hungry today. We have an educational system which is lacking for low-income and working-class kids. Climate change is out there. Joe understands this is an existential problem for the planet. So, in talking to the vice president, and his own public proclamations, I think he's making it clear that we need to, in a very bold way, start addressing the crisis working-class families today." On why he believes some Republicans will support Biden: "You have a lot of people who will disagree on a lot of issues, but who do believe that we have to have a President, when you turn on the television and you see him, you're not embarrassed. You don't say to the kids, ‘Go to another room.' It's somebody that at least you can say, ‘Alright, he is reflecting American values to the rest of the world.' That is certainly not the case with Donald Trump."
