Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the 87th United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting He said nothing can get done "unless we start talking to one another again." | Mark Wilson/Getty Images Politics Biden on criticism of his praise for GOP lawmaker: 'Bless me, Father, for I have sinned'

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who is weighing a 2020 presidential run, rejected criticism that he is too close with Republican lawmakers, telling a gathering of U.S. mayors in Washington that nothing can get done "unless we start talking to one another again."

The criticism of Biden stems from a New York Times report published earlier this week detailing remarks he made in the run-up to last year's midterms praising Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) as “one of the finest guys I’ve ever worked with.” Upton, facing a stiff challenge from a Democratic challenger, won his race by 4.5 percentage points.


Biden's words, which quickly surfaced in Republican advertising, prompted backlash from Michigan Democrats, the Times reported.

"I read in New York Times today ... that one of my problems is if I ever run for president, I like Republicans," Biden said during a speech at the Conference of Mayors' winter meeting in Washington. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned."

Although Biden has a longstanding reputation as a bipartisan deal-maker on Capitol Hill, his warm words for a Republican during last year's heated midterms could hinder a possible presidential bid in 2020, especially with an increasingly packed Democratic field.

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During Thursday's speech, Biden said that he spoke at an event that Upton happened to be at and he had praised him for "his fight against cancer" by supporting related legislation. The former vice president added that nothing get's done when lawmakers don't reach across the aisle.

"But, you know, from where I come from, I don't know how you get anything done" without working with the other party, he said. "I don't know how they get anything done unless we start talking to one another again."

The potential 2020 candidate also advocated for local leaders to start doing more to combat climate change. Biden warned of apocalyptic damage if mayors do not attempt to find clean energy alternatives.

"What happens in Dubuque when John Deere has nothing to plow?" he warned.

A report released by federal scientists late last year warned that the planet's coastlines will shift, droughts and storms will worsen, and there will be outbreaks of dangerous diseases because of rising temperatures.

Biden said that he wants leaders to understand that climate change is "the most urgent priority facing the nation."

"We will be judged by our children and grandchildren what we do today, and you deserve a strong federal partner," he said. "This nation cannot continue down this blind path. We cannot ignore science, we cannot abdicate our duty to lead the world."

"This is the United States of America for God's sake. It's time to lift our heads up and take these on; this is all in our wheelhouse."