Bernie Sanders Says Campaigns Are Coming 'Closer and Closer Together'

Clinton's new health care plan is "significant," he said.

ByABC News
July 9, 2016, 2:01 PM

— -- Bernie Sanders inched closer today to endorsing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, applauding her new health care plan and calling it "significant."

The rollout of this updated plan, and Sanders' support of it, was one of the last key hurdles that the two campaigns agreed to pass ahead of a potential joint event next Tuesday.

This past Wednesday, Clinton also announced a new college affordability plan that had tweaks from her former proposals. According to the campaign, the changes were the result of her meeting with Sanders.

During a press call on the health care plan -- which is notable shift for Clinton but still a far cry from Sanders' proposed Medicare-for-all plan -- the independent senator from Vermont made a statement supporting Clinton's plan.

In his statement, Sanders applauded a number of the details in the proposal -- specifically the expansion of Medicare, the increase in primary care service funding and the size of the national Health Service Corps, and the inclusion of a choice of a public option insurance plan.

Asked whether this meant an endorsement was imminent, Sanders said the campaigns "are coming closer and closer together." He added that he "will have more to say I think in the very new future."

Clinton announced today that she will hold an event in New Hampshire on Tuesday, but at this point there was no mention of a guest.