Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenCast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response Biden tells CNN town hall that he has benefited from white privilege MORE came to Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE's defense on Thursday after conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh suggested the former South Bend, Ind., mayor's sexuality made him unelectable.

“You saw, you just had on Rush Limbaugh, I mean, my God, it’s part of the depravity of this administration,” Biden said on ABC’s “The View.”

“Pete and I are competitors, but this guy has honor, he has courage, he’s smart as hell,” Biden added.

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.@JoeBiden reacts to Rush Limbaugh questioning Pete Buttigieg’s electability because of his sexuality: “Pete and I are competitors, but this guy has honor, he has courage, he’s smart as hell.” https://t.co/f8u2wbJuik pic.twitter.com/1ohsu7Wdpu — The View (@TheView) February 13, 2020

Limbaugh, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE at last week's State of the Union address, said Wednesday that Democratic Party leaders are “looking at Mayor Pete, a 37-year-old gay guy, mayor of South Bend, loves to kiss his husband on the debate stage, and they’re saying, 'OK, how’s this gonna look, a 37-year-old gay guy kissing his husband onstage next to Mr. Man Donald Trump? What’s gonna happen there?' "

Buttigieg, who would be the first openly gay president if elected, finished ahead of Biden in both the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, making him the top moderate in the first two nominating states.

Despite a fifth-place finish in Tuesday's primary, which was narrowly won by Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) and a strong third-place finish by Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.), Biden vowed to stay in the race.

“I'll be damned if we're gonna lose this nomination, particularly if we're gonna lose this nomination and end up losing an election to Donald Trump," Biden said Wednesday.