US President Barack Obama welcomed Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders' to the Oval Office today for a private meeting during which the two discussed foreign, domestic issues and "occasionally a little bit of politics".
Sanders, the Vermont Senator, met Obama at the White House for about 45 minutes.
In a brief interaction with reporters after the meeting, sanders said he and Obama had a "productive and constructive meeting about a number of issues" including foreign, domestic and "occasionally a little bit of politics"
"We're feeling really good about where we are" but not saying he can repeat Obama in 2008. If there is a large turnout I think we win, if not I think we're going to be struggling," Sanders said, adding that he did not ask the President for his endorsement.
The meeting comes after Obama heaped praise on other Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and dismissed comparisons between Sanders rise in the early state polls and Obama's groundbreaking 2008 campaign against Clinton.
"The President and I discussed this morning a number of issues, foreign policy issues, domestic issues. Occasionally, a little bit of politics. But I enjoyed the meeting, and I thought it was a very positive and constructive meeting," Sanders said.
"The President was certainly expecting to spend some time talking in the meeting about how they could work together to advance Democratic priorities and values. That's work that they've obviously done in the past, and that's work that the president hopes they can do together in the future," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
"I would anticipate there was an opportunity for the president to reminisce a little bit about his own experience campaigning for President -- both in terms of drawing big crowds, but also spending some time talking to people in -- in more out-of-the-way places, where the crowds are not as large, but the interactions do allow for a more personal, private conversation," he said.
Sanders-Obama meeting took place only days ahead of the crucial Iowa Caucus.
"I think what the Iowa campaign ends up being about is one word, and that is turnout. We're feeling really good about where we are, and if there is a large voter turnout...Think we win. If not, I think we're going to be struggling," he noted.
"No, of course not," Sanders said when asked if he asked for Obama's endorsement.
"What the President has tried to do, what Vice President Biden has tried to do, is to be as even-handed as they can be. I think he and the vice president tried to be fair and even-handed in the process, and I expect they will continue to be that way," he said.
Responding to a question, Sanders appeared to be supporting Obama's policy against the ISIS.
"I think what the President is trying to do is the right thing, and what he is trying to do is keep our young men and women in the military out of a perpetual war in the quagmire of the Middle East," he said.
