Washington (CNN) Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Tuesday that he's supporting Joe Biden for president, arguing that the former VP is the "right person" for "this time in our country," though he remains a Republican.

"I don't know of a more experienced, better person, a more decent person in politics. He's smart, he understands, he listens. There is no perfect candidate. But I think Joe Biden, for this time in our country, with the challenges that we have, I think he's the right person," Hagel, who served in the Obama administration alongside Biden, told CNN's Brianna Keilar on "Right Now" Tuesday.

Hagel, who is also a former Republican senator from Nebraska, said Biden is "not only a good friend, but he's a man I have admired for many, many years." The former defense secretary added that while he likes Bernie Sanders , he feels the Vermont senator's positions are "just too far left" and would hurt Democrats in down ballot races.

But he added that he's still a Republican and will let the Democrats "sort out who they want to be their candidate."

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