U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) told Joe Biden “we need you in the White House” today in a surprise endorsement via the Biden campaign’s live Periscope video.

The two-time failed presidential candidate is attempting to unite the two Democrat camps saying, 

“Today I am asking all Americans. I’m asking every Democrat, I’m asking every independent, I’m asking a lot of Republicans to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse, to make certain that we defeat somebody who I believe, and I’m speaking just for myself, now is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country.”

Biden thanked his former rival responding, “I want to thank you for that. It’s a big deal. Your endorsement means a great deal, a great deal to me.”

The nod of confidence serves as a much-needed boost to the Biden campaign which has been struggling to adapt to the rapidly changing political landscape given the COVID-19 pandemic.

After barely stumbling his way through a brutal primary election, the endorsement is crucial to prevent Bernie Sanders supporters from staying home or even voting for President Trump.

The endorsement comes less than a week after Sanders suspended his presidential campaign. A Biden-Sanders ticket is unlikely for multiple reasons: Biden has said he will ask a woman to be his running mate and let’s be honest, it needs to be someone under 70 years old and preferably someone who did not have a heart attack last year which Bernie did.

That leads many to suspect that the frontrunner for the spot may be another former presidential candidate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), who quickly endorsed Joe Biden after dropping out herself. 

Harris happens to be African-American which would likely help galvanize black voters who may not be that enthusiastic about a Biden presidency. However, it may be wiser for Biden to opt for a running mate from a swing state which California is not.