Washington DC - Senator Bernie Sanders opened up on Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's possible political future in a new interview.

Sanders told Alex Thompson on The Axios Show that AOC would make a "formidable" presidential candidate in 2028.

The remarks came amid speculation that AOC might be considering a 2028 run for the White House or for Chuck Schumer's Senate seat.

"That's her decision to make," the Vermont independent said.

He went on to praise AOC as "an incredibly intelligent person and – in the best sense of the word – a very, very good politician."

"I've been out on the streets with her, people come up, and how she responds to people is so incredibly genuine and open. You know, it's just something, a gift that she has," Sanders said.

"She comes from the working class," he added. "When she was a kid, she was cleaning houses with her mother. She knows what it's like not to have any money."

Sanders and AOC have traveled around the country on their Fighting Oligarchy tour, which takes aim at corporate greed and its destructive influence on American politics.

After heaping praise on the New York Democrat, Sanders clarified that he thinks there are more "great young people" who are carrying the progressive mantle forward.

He name-checked Representatives Greg Casar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Maxwell Frost of Florida as examples of such politicians who put the working class first.

"That gives me a lot of optimism about our political future," the 84-year-old said.