By Anita Kumar

McClatchy Washington Bureau

(TNS)

WASHINGTON — Despite their differences, Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have plenty of things in common. Here are five of them:

—Obama’s 3rd term

Clinton and Sanders are embracing President Barack Obama, whose approval ratings have improved in recent months. Clinton reminds voters that as secretary of state she worked alongside him and wants to build on his successes. Sanders calls him a friend.

—Keystone XL pipeline

Sanders and Clinton oppose the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to the U.S., saying the project would hinder efforts to combat climate change.

—They’ve been in Washington a long time

Sanders and Clinton have been part of Washington for decades. Sanders has served 34 years in elective office, a quarter of a century of that in Congress. Clinton came to Washington just two years after Sanders, first as first lady and then as a senator from New York and as secretary of state.

—Planned Parenthood

Clinton and Sanders want to boost funding for Planned Parenthood, the health care provider that performs abortions and is under attack by Republicans who want to stop government financial support.

—Those Clinton emails

Both Clinton and Sanders think the public is making too much of Clinton’s use of a personal email account as secretary of state. Sanders, who memorably dismissed questions about Clinton’s emails at the first Democratic presidential debate last fall, said Tuesday in Iowa that he didn’t regret giving his rival a pass on a sensitive issue.

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