Sanders: Clinton Endorsement Not 'Lesser of Two Evils'

Bernie Sanders said Wednesday his endorsement of former Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to defeat Donald Trump isn't a matter of choosing the "lesser of two evils," but he does think the country's future is in danger should Trump be elected.

"It is absolutely imperative for the future of this country that Donald Trump not be elected president of the United States," the Vermont senator told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America," one day after he appeared on stage with Clinton to announce his support.

He said that he and Clinton do share views on several policy issues, including health care, college costs, minimum wage, and more, but he doubts he's going to end up on her ticket as a running mate.

"Right now, what my job is to make sure that Hillary Clinton is elected president, that we defeat Trump and come up with a set of principles and an agenda that speaks to the needs of working families," he said.

His support took some time to come while the Democratic Party finalized its platform, but now that it's finished, Sanders says the plans are "the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party."

But Clinton does have some work ahead of her in her fight against Trump, Sanders acknowledged.

"This is not a beauty contest between Trump and Hillary Clinton," he told Stephanopoulos. "This is the fact that the middle class of this country is in trouble . . . And the more the people hear the contrast between the two, I think Secretary Clinton's support will grow."

The former candidate, also appearing on the "Today" show, said that it took him 35 days before announcing his support of Clinton because there was a "lot of work to do" to make sure the party's platform was strong.

Sanders also weighed in on Clinton's email controversy, telling the program that she is not a perfect human being, but neither is he.

"I think what we have to focus on is not Donald Trump as a person, not Hillary Clinton as a person," said Sanders. "It is the needs of the middle class and working families. Which candidate is going to do more for ordinary Americans?"

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