Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, is introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., left, at a rally in Cincinnati, Monday, June 27. | AP Photo Sanders critiques Kaine, boosts Warren as Clinton VP pick

Bernie Sanders' endorsement of Hillary Clinton is near, if comments from the Vermont senator to Bloomberg TV's Al Hunt are any indication. And he made clear Thursday that between two of the leading contenders to be Clinton's running mate, he has a favorite.

On Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who the Clinton campaign announced will campaign with the presumptive Democratic nominee next Thursday in the northern part of the state, Sanders remarked that his Senate colleague "is a very decent guy."


"I happen to believe that we should have as our vice presidential nominee a very strong progressive voice, somebody who has a history of standing up to big money interests, somebody who is gonna fight for the working families of this country and who has a history of doing that,” Sanders said.

When asked if Kaine met those requirements, Sanders responded, "I don't want to comment on Tim Kaine."

But should his former political rival select Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sanders said he "would be pleased," calling the firebrand liberal who withheld her support of either Democratic candidate until after Clinton effectively clinched the nomination “one of the outstanding members of the United States Senate."

"She has a life history of standing up to powerful special interests," Sanders said.