'Bernie is a Democrat': Biden backtracks on Sanders after questioning his party loyalty

Joe Biden walked back his jab questioning Democratic presidential primary rival Bernie Sanders's loyalty to the party.

"The context of the question was different. They were asking me about a bunch of things about what Bernie was saying," Biden, 77, said in a Good Morning America interview on Friday. "Look, Bernie is a Democrat. Bernie is a — he calls himself a Democratic socialist. We have a different view on a whole lot of things. He's a decent guy. I don't think he — he should be running."

"That wasn't the question," the former vice president continued. "The question is whether or not — who's best prepared on Day One to try to reunite this party and the country as well as stand on the world stage and reassert our role in the world. That's — that was the issue. That was the context of what we were talking about."

Biden on Thursday brought up the Vermont senator's party loyalty when asked what the biggest contrast is between him and Sanders, 78. He was not specifically asked about Sanders's party affiliation.

"I’m a Democrat," Biden told reporters. "He says he’s not. He’s not a registered Democrat to the best of my knowledge."

Sanders has been elected as an independent since first joining the House in 1991, though he caucuses with his Democratic colleagues. Last year, Sanders signed a loyalty pledge to the party that read, "I am a member of the Democratic Party."

Biden also said on Friday that he would endorse Sanders or any of his other rivals should some else win the Democratic presidential nomination.

[ Also read: 'Bernie definitely concerns me': Trump supporters take Sanders challenge seriously]