Bernie Sanders drops out of Democratic primary, clearing way for Biden’s nomination
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is dropping out of the Democratic primary, clearing the way for former Vice President Joe Biden to take the nomination and face President Donald Trump in the fall.
“As I see this crisis gripping the nation,” Sanders said, “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win.” Sanders made the announcement in a live video just before noon Wednesday.
Sanders described Biden as a “very decent man” who he will work with moving forward. “Standing united we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump,” he said. He described Trump as “the most dangerous president in modern American history.”
In a statement released after the announcement, Biden said, “Bernie has put his heart and soul into not only running for President, but for the causes and issues he has been dedicated to his whole life.”
“Bernie has done something rare in politics. He hasn’t just run a political campaign; he’s created a movement. And make no mistake about it, I believe it’s a movement that is as powerful today as it was yesterday,” Biden said.
In a tweet, the presumptive nominee said, “To Bernie’s supporters: I know that I need to earn your votes. And I know that might take time. But I want you to know that I see you, I hear you, and I understand the urgency of this moment. I hope you’ll join us. You’re more than welcome: You’re needed.”
Tweeting as Sanders made his announcement, Trump said, “Bernie Sanders is OUT! Thank you to Elizabeth Warren. If not for her, Bernie would have won almost every state on Super Tuesday! This ended just like the Democrats & the DNC wanted, same as the Crooked Hillary fiasco. The Bernie people should come to the Republican Party, TRADE!”
Sanders’ message to supporters
Thanking volunteers and donors, Sanders said his campaign “has had a profound impact” in changing the country.
“Together we have transformed American consciousness to what kind of country we can become,” he said.
Speaking to his supporters, Sanders pushed the main messages of his campaign: universal health care, raising the minimum wage, getting away from fossil fuels and making higher education free.
“Few would deny that over the course of the last five years, our movement has won the so-called ideological struggle,” he said. “It was not long ago that people considered these ideas radical.”
Sanders had taken an early lead in the primary race, building on his base from 2016 to launch a new campaign last year. After Sanders won in several early primary states, Biden pulled into a strong lead with a series of wins starting in South Carolina and into Super Tuesday. As of April 8, Sanders was more than 300 delegates behind the former VP in the race for the nomination.
“If we don’t believe we are entitled to health care as a human right, we will never achieve health care as a human right,” Sanders said. He said the coronavirus pandemic has shown how the U.S. medical system is broken. “Health care must be considered a human right and not an employee benefit.”
“The future of our country rests with young people,” Sanders said. “The future of this country is with our ideas.”
The senator told campaign aides the news Wednesday morning during an all-staff call, Politico reporter Holly Otterbien tweeted.
“Sanders told his aides that this is not just a presidential campaign, but a movement, and to be proud of what they’ve accomplished: Four years ago, no one talked about a $15 minimum wage and considered tuition-free college a crazy idea, he said,” Otterbien tweeted.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Bernie Sanders drops out of Democratic primary, clearing way for Biden’s nomination."
