White House downplays Biden’s prediction that Clinton will win primary

The White House downplayed Wednesday Vice President Joseph R. Biden’s prediction of victory for Hillary Clinton, saying he was merely handicapping her primary race with Sen. Bernard Sanders.

“I don’t think that he was doing much more than just making an observation about the math of the race, particularly as it relates to the delegate count,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.

Mr. Biden said Tuesday that he is “confident” Mrs. Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. She went on to lose the West Virginia primary to Mr. Sanders hours after his pronouncement.

Asked if President Obama agrees with Mr. Biden’s assessment, Mr. Earnest replied, “I don’t have anything to say about president Obama’s plans to weigh in at this point.”