WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders officially endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president, five days after the Vermont independent suspended his presidential campaign.

"Today, I am asking all Americans, I'm asking every Democrat, I'm asking every independent, I'm asking a lot of Republicans to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse," Sanders said Monday after joining Biden on a campaign livestream to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanders ended his presidential campaign last Wednesday, a day after the Wisconsin primary. His campaign started strong as the primary voting began, placing at or near the top in the first three early voting state contests. Biden’s campaign was reenergized after a dominating win in South Carolina, recovering from disappointing losses in the first three contests, and the former vice president continued to rack up primary wins.

Step One: Done:Now that Bernie Sanders is out, Joe Biden gets an earlier-than-expected start

Biden, the presumptive nominee, is more moderate than Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist. One of their biggest points of conflict has been "Medicare for All," which Sanders has long supported. Biden does not support the plan and has said he would build on advances from the Affordable Care Act.

"I think people are going to be surprised. We are apart on some issues, but we are awfully close on others," Biden told Sanders. "I'm going to need you. Not just to win the campaign but to govern."

Last week, after he announced he was dropping out of the 2020 presidential primary, Sanders called Biden a "decent man" but noted he was staying on the ballot in many states holding primaries in an attempt to rack up "as many delegates as possible" before the Democratic National Convention to "be able to exert significant influence over the party platform and other functions."

Biden and Sanders came out as a united front Monday. Biden announced that the two jointly established several policy working groups – including on the economy, education, criminal justice, immigration and climate change. They said they agree that a cabinet member to focus on pandemics should be established.

"These groups are made up of thoughtful leaders that have worked with Bernie and some of whom have supported me as well," Biden said. "And the task is for them to develop creative new ideas and proposals, and we're looking forward to turning that work into positive change for the country."

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During the livestream, Biden asked Sanders for his thoughts on certain issues that the former vice president should address, specifically with younger voters. Biden has struggled to gain significant support among young people, who largely supported Sanders in the primary.

"So what politics and what policies do we need to address for the concerns of these young people? Because I do think they've been put behind the eight ball more than our generation was or any generation in recent history," Biden asked Sanders.

"That's absolutely true, Joe, and I'm glad you're prepared to focus on that issue, it's the right thing to do," Sanders responded. "And that is the generation of young people who are experiencing crisis after crisis."

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Sanders repeated that he believes public colleges and universities must be tuition-free. When Sanders asked Biden for his education policy, the former vice president said he believes that because of the coronavirus pandemic, public colleges and universities should be free for all lower-income and middle class families.

"Look, they're going to face an enormous burden. Where are they going to get the money to go even to our state universities or borrow that money?" Biden said.

Biden noted in his closing statement that he will work with Sanders throughout the election and beyond.

"I'd like to close by saying, Bernie, as Jill and I told you and Jane, we're deeply grateful to both of you," Biden said. "You've put the interests of this nation and the need to beat Donald Trump above all else, and for that, Jill and I are grateful.

"We know we have enormous responsibility to meet that expectation," he concluded. "We also want you to know I'm excited to do the work with you in the months and years ahead."