(CNN) — Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Republicans are not the “chief enemy,” contrasting with would-be chief Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton should he jump in the race.

“I really respect the members up there and I still have a lot of Republican friends. I don’t think my chief enemy is the Republican Party. This is a matter of making things work,” Biden said Tuesday, during an event honoring former Vice President Walter Mondale.

Hillary Clinton argued during the Democratic debate last week that Republicans were among her enemies she’s most proud of.

It was the second such remark in two days, as the vice president made similar comments at a climate change event on Monday.

“I don’t consider Republicans enemies,” Biden said Monday. “They’re friends.”

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