Sherrod Brown: Biden’s potential White House bid had ‘zero’ influence on decision not to run

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who announced last week that he won’t run for president, said Sunday that former Vice President Joe Biden’s potential 2020 bid did not influence his decision not to launch his own campaign.

“It was none of that. I know it’s been reported, but people who reported that never called me, never called Connie. … I like Joe Biden. I just haven’t talked to him,” Brown said during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

{mosads}Brown added that he was asked several times on the campaign trail by voters what kind of influence Biden’s decision would have on his own.

“My answer was always, ‘Zero,'” Brown said.

Some political commentators have speculated that Brown’s decision not to run will benefit Biden by opening a window to win over working-class voters and labor unions. Biden is reportedly close to announcing his candidacy.

Brown last week announced his decision not to run for president, saying that he thinks the best way he can serve the country is from the Senate.

“I will keep calling out Donald Trump and his phony populism. I will keep fighting for all workers across the country. And I will do everything I can to elect a Democratic President and a Democratic Senate in 2020,” he said in a statement.

“The best place for me to make that fight is in the United States Senate,” Brown added.