Rep. Ro Khanna, a national campaign co-chair for Bernie Sanders, on Friday called Elizabeth Warren "an outstanding choice" to become Sanders' running mate should he capture the Democratic presidential nomination.

The California Democrat told MSNBC he would "absolutely" advise Sanders to name a woman as his vice presidential pick, and singled out the Vermont senator's colleague from Massachusetts when asked who specifically he would recommend.


"Maybe Sen. Warren," Khanna said. "I mean, I've said Senator Warren would be an outstanding choice. There will be other outstanding choices."

The words of praise from the top Sanders campaign official come after Warren declined to immediately endorse another candidate after dropping out of the Democratic primary Thursday — further irking some Sanders supporters who argued that she siphoned progressive voters from Sanders on Super Tuesday.

Joe Biden, meanwhile, supplanted Sanders as the party's frontrunner following that slate of state primaries, bolstered by swift endorsements earlier in the week from former rivals and an apparent consolidation of the moderate vote.

Since the battle to take on President Donald Trump in November narrowed to a two-man contest, Warren's potential endorsement has loomed large over the race, with her statements receiving closer political scrutiny as both Biden and Sanders jostle for her backing. Warren has yet to indicate whether she will even endorse at all, at times bristling at questions about the subject.

During an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow following her exit from the primary Thursday, Warren acknowledged that she had disagreements with Biden on matters of policy, but described him as "a decent guy." As for Sanders, Warren again condemned the online rhetoric of some of his most fervent supporters and said such behavior represented "a real problem."


She also downplayed any potential interest in the vice presidency, telling Maddow: "Hey, look, the job of senator is a good job. As a matter of fact, the job of teacher is a good job."

Responding to Warren's remarks Friday, Khanna reiterated Sanders' disavowal of those supporters' posts and went on to applaud Warren's liberal credentials.

"I said that is absolutely unacceptable," he said. "Senator Warren is an intellectual giant. She's a leader of the progressive movement. She's been an ally of Sen. Sanders in some of the toughest fights."