White House hopeful and former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE (D) on Tuesday took a jab at President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in a new interview, joking that Democrats could run \u201cMickey Mouse\u201d in the 2020 presidential election and \u201chave a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a marathon,\u201d Biden said of the 2020 White House race in an appearance on\u00a0MSNBC\u2019s \u201cMorning Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anybody has predicted much of anything about who\u2019s going to win nominations in the recent past very accurately.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cMorning Joe\u201d co-host Willie Geist told Biden that some Democratic pundits, including longtime strategist James Carville, have warned that the party \u201ccannot nominate [Sen.] Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters \u2014 who have been a weakness MORE [I-Vt.] or we\u2019ll lose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c[Carville] said people are not going to vote for socialism, he says. Do you agree with that, that if Bernie Sanders is the nominee, Democrats will lose?\u201d Geist pressed Biden, who has been running neck-and-neck with Sanders at the top of most polls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI refuse to suggest any Democrat can lose. I think, you know, we could run Mickey Mouse against this president and have a shot,\u201d Biden shot back.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n“I refuse to suggest any Democrat can lose. I think we could run Mickey Mouse against this president and have a shot.” –@JoeBiden pic.twitter.com\/91dJpO5zCf<\/p>\n
\u2014 Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) February 11, 2020<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Carville said in a Monday interview with MSNBC that black voters are \u201clooking for somebody who can come in and not just excite them but talk about things that really matter to them in every day life. They\u2019re not interested in socialism and the revolution and all of that foolishness you hear.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s\u00a0comments came the morning of the important New Hampshire primary.<\/p>\n
The RealClearPolitics polling average has Biden tied for fourth place among Democrats in the state, along with Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.). Sanders is polling in first place ahead of former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE (D) and a surging Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.).<\/p>\n
Buttigieg won the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses last week by a razor-thin margin over Sanders, with Biden finishing in fourth place.<\/p>\n