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Carson rooting for Trump, Sanders debate

by TheHill.com - 05/27/16 10:02 AM ET

.@realBenCarson: Trump-Sanders debate would show the difference between traditional U.S. values and socialism.https://t.co/Cfoe31R7Qf

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) May 27, 2016

Donald Trump surrogate Ben Carson on Friday expressed excitement at the prospect of the de facto GOP nominee debating left-wing Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders.

“It would be a wonderful thing,” Carson said on Fox Business, arguing a debate would help Trump contrast his ideas from those of Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist.

{mosads}”I would love to see such a debate because it would help to crystalize for the American people the difference between traditional American values and socialism,” Carson said.

Buzz surrounding a possible Trump-Sanders debate has escalated two days after Trump expressed openness to such an event in off-the-cuff remarks on a late-night talk show.

Sanders, who has pushed for a Democratic debate in California ahead of the June 7 primary, took up Trump on the idea. Trump later said at a news conference that he’d want millions donated to charity for such an event.

“The problem with debating Bernie is he’s going to lose,” Trump remarked while speaking to reporters in North Dakota, toying with the idea of taking on the Independent Vermont senator one-on-one.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner who declined an invitation to debate Sanders ahead of the California primary, dismissed talk on Thursday of a Trump-Sanders debate, calling it unserious.

Tags 2016 presidential election Bernie Sanders Donald Trump Hillary Clinton