STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is wading more deeply in the presidential contest, saying she plans to get behind a Democratic candidate for president but added it’s too early to discuss whether she would be open to joining the ticket as the candidate for vice president.
The Massachusetts Democrat, who has kept a relatively low profile in the heated nominating contests, also ramped up her criticism of Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
In a posting on her Facebook page Monday, Warren made it clear that she has begun speaking out partly because she increasingly views Trump as a threat to the country.
In the post, Warren warned of “a history of demagogues calling those they disagree with “terrorists” and using that as justification for intimidation and violence.”
“There’s also a history of people staying quiet for too long, hoping for the best but watching silently as the threat metastasizes,” Warren wrote. “Donald Trump is a bigger, uglier threat every day that goes by — and it’s time for decent people everywhere — Republican, Democrat, Independent — to say No More Donald.”
The comments come a day after she said Trump is responsible for “fostering and fomenting” the anger that erupted into a melee Friday in Chicago, forcing the cancellation of a scheduled rally.
Warren made those comments during an interview broadcast Sunday on NECN, New England Cable News.
Warren has yet to endorse anyone for president.
She said during the NECN interview that she plans to back a candidate for president but added that she doesn’t have a timeline for when that might happen. Every other member of Massachusetts’ all-Democratic congressional delegation has endorsed Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Warren also said it’s “way, way premature to talk about” whether she would consider a vice presidential bid, saying she loves her job as senator.
An endorsement by Warren, who remains a hero to the liberal wing of the party, would be considered a prize for either Clinton or her opponent in the Democratic race, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders has echoed Warren’s criticisms of Wall Street and rising student load debt more than any other candidate.
Clinton narrowly edged out Sanders in the Massachusetts Democratic primary.
On Monday, Warren ratcheted up her criticism of the GOP primary contest.
“I watch what’s happening right now on the Republican side, and there reaches a point where silence is not a virtue,” Warren said Monday during a stop at Clark University in Worcester.
“There is a form of ugliness and extremism that is erupting on the right, and it not only threatens the Republicans it threatens the entire country,” she added.
Warren, who has largely stayed on the sidelines of the presidential race, signaled that will change.
“I’m getting more involved, and I will get more involved as we get closer and closer to November,” she said.
