Biden has 'no problem' with Bloomberg running for president

Joe Biden said Friday that he welcomes the possibility of billionaire Michael Bloomberg joining the crowded presidential field seeking the Democratic nomination.

"Michael's a solid guy, and let's see where it goes," Biden told reporters after filing paperwork to run in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary in February. "I have no problem with him getting in the race."

The former vice president, who is trying to hold his place as a 2020 front-runner, struck a confident tone about his own prospects and dismissed any suggestion that his campaign is faltering. Bloomberg's aides said Thursday that the former New York City mayor was contemplating a presidential bid because he doesn't see the current field as strong enough to produce a nominee who can defeat President Donald Trump.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters outside the New Hampshire State House after he filed to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

"I'm the only person in this race that has significant support in every single solitary sector" of the Democratic electorate, Biden said, pointing at national primary polls. Of talk that his own candidacy is struggling, Biden brushed it aside, saying, "I've been hearing about this for a while now."

Biden emphasized his support among African Americans, Latinos and working-class voters, plus solid standing with women and young voters.

"The Democratic Party is a big tent," he said. "In order to be able to win, you have to be able to reach out and win parts of all of the constituency."

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters outside the New Hampshire State House after he filed to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

In recent days, Biden has gone more directly on offense against his liberal rival, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another leading candidate who represents a different wing of the Democratic Party. Earlier this week, Biden accused her of being elitist in her criticism that any Democrat who doesn't back her progressive proposals on health care, education and other issues might be "running in the wrong presidential primary."

In New Hampshire on Friday, Biden said he wasn't trying to personally attack Warren, and he instead accused her of being the candidate who was setting an unfair standard with an ideological purity test. Biden calls for adding a public option health insurance plan to compete alongside private insurance, while Warren wants a single-payer, government-run "Medicare for all" insurance model.

"I'm not saying she's out of touch," Biden said. "But to turn around and say to the millions of Democrats out there that, in fact, if you don't agree with me, then you are lacking courage and you are not a Democrat, that's not how we run the Democratic Party."

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, center, and wife Jill Biden at his side, greet supporters outside the New Hampshire State House after he filed to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden hands the pen to New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, second from left, after filing to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. At left is his wife Jill Biden. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden files to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. At left is his wife Jill Biden, and New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the media as he files to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, left, applauds as his wife Jill Biden speaks to supporters outside the New Hampshire State House after he filed to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. At right is former Democratic New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden embraces a supporter outside the New Hampshire State House after he filed to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters outside the New Hampshire State House after he filed to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP PhotoCharles Krupa)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said that the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the U.S. administration’s view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put too many innocent Palestinian civilians at risk.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from President Joe Biden and other western officials that doing so would result in more civilian deaths and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration has said there could be consequences for Israel should it move forward with the operation without a credible plan to safeguard civilians.

“Absent such a plan, we can’t support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond what’s acceptable,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said late Friday at the Sedona Forum, an event in Arizona hosted by the McCain Institute.

Some 1.5 million Palestinians have sheltered in the southern Gaza city as the territory has been ravaged by the war that began on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

The United Nations humanitarian aid agency on Friday said that hundreds of thousands of people would be “at imminent risk of death” if Israel moves forward with the Rafah assault. The border city is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid and is filled with displaced Palestinians, many in densely packed tent camps.

The officials added that the evacuation plan that the Israelis briefed was not finalized and both sides agreed to keep discussing the matter.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday that no “comprehensive” plan for a potential Rafah operation has been revealed by the Israelis to the White House. The operation, however, has been discussed during recent calls between Biden and Netanyahu as well as during recent virtual talks with top Israeli and U.S. national security officials.

“We want to make sure that those conversations continue because it is important to protect those Palestinian lives — those innocent lives,” Jean-Pierre said.

The revelation of Israel's continued push to carry out a Rafah operation came as CIA director William Burns arrived Friday in Egypt, where negotiators are trying to seal a cease-fire accord between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas is considering the latest proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release put forward by U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who are looking to avert the Rafah operation.

They have publicly pressed Hamas to accept the terms of the deal that would lead to an extended cease-fire and an exchange of Israeli hostages taken captive on Oct. 7 and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas has said it will send a delegation to Cairo in the coming days for further discussions on the offer, though it has not specified when.

Israel, and its allies, have sought to increase pressure on Hamas on the hostage negotiation. Signaling that Israel continues to move forward with its planning for a Rafah operation could be a tactic to nudge the militants to finalize the deal.

Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israeli forces would enter Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas’ last stronghold, regardless of whether a truce-for-hostages deal is struck. His comments appeared to be meant to appease his nationalist governing partners, and it was not clear whether they would have any bearing on any emerging deal with Hamas.

Blinken visited the region, including Israel, this week and called the latest proposal “extraordinarily generous” and said “the time to act is now.”

In Arizona on Friday, Blinken repeated remarks he made earlier this week that "the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a cease-fire is Hamas.”

The Chahine family prepares to bury two adults and five boys and girls under the age of 16 after an overnight Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 3, 2024. An Israeli strike on the city of Rafah on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip killed several people, including children, hospital officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

FILE - Palestinians line up for free food during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Jan. 9, 2024. A top U.N. official said Friday, May 3, 2024, that hard-hit northern Gaza was now in “full-blown famine" after more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe Israeli restrictions on food deliveries to the Palestinian territory. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali, File)

Palestinians rescue a woman survived after the Israeli bombardment on a residential building of Abu Alenan family in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, early Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn of the White House as he talks with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Washington, after returning from a trip to North Carolina. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)