Trump praised Bernie Sanders as smarter than Joe Biden Unlisted Video

To his millions of Twitter followers President Trump denounces 2020 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont as "crazy".Show more

He even launched into a mocking impersonation of Sanders' mannerisms at a raucous rally in August.

But in remarks to Boston Herald radio on Thursday, the president indicated that he may have more respect for the veteran left-wing senator than he usually lets on.

Discussing his rivals for the presidency in 2020, the president remarked of Democratic front-runner Joe Biden "In many ways, I like him" — but added "he's not as smart as Bernie [Sanders]. And he's not as quick."

The president has previously named the two as the Democrats most likely to challenge him for the presidency in 2020.

So why does the president think Sanders — whose chances in 2020 many top Democrats and pundits have written off — is a serious challenger?

The answer lies in Sanders' appeal to white working class voters in Rust Belt states, thousands of whom swung to the Republicans in 2016, delivering Trump the presidency.