Biden sides with Bernie; says he prefers Sanders' big ideas to grow Dem party

WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- Vice President Joe Biden said he prefers the big-thinking campaign style of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to the pragmatic approach of Hillary Clinton.

Biden's remarks come as top faces in President Barack Obama's administration remain officially neutral in the Democratic primary.

On Wednesday, first lady Michelle Obama raved about Clinton during a White House event when she was asked about her husband's former secretary of state by a 14-year-old at a Bring Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Given the apolitical nature of the event -- not to mention the questioner -- Obama could have avoided headlines by offering a few kind words and moving on to the next question.

Instead, she called the last Democrat to have her job "incredible" and "tremendous" -- and, making sure she got the press corps' attention, Obama also pledged she will not follow Clinton's path from political wife to politician herself.

A day later, Biden, speaking to The New York Times -- not a bad outlet if you want to make a subtle point to a wide audience -- said he admired Sanders for pitching big ideas, saying it is that kind of campaigning that will help the party grow in voters' esteem.

"I like the idea of saying 'We can do much more' because we can," Biden said. "I don't think any Democrat's ever won saying, 'We can't think that big -- we ought to really downsize here because it's not realistic.' C'mon man, this is the Democratic Party! I'm not part of the party that says, 'Well, we can't do it.'"

For his part, Obama walked back from comments made to party donors at a fundraiser last month, when reports indicated he implied the Sanders campaign was all-but-finished. Those remarks came before Sanders rattled off a string of victories leading up to New York's primary where Clinton crushed him in her adopted home state.

Obama, playing political strategist-in-chief, noted the odd advantage a candidate like Sanders has in a campaign, by enjoying "the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose."

Obama would know. Back in 2008, it's where he started.