Sanders drops out of U.S. election race, setting up Biden battle with Trump

By Simon Lewis and John Whitesides

 

Democratic U.S. Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders announces to supporters that he is suspending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in a livestream broadcast from his home in Burlington, Vermont, U.S. April 8, 2020. Bernie Sanders 2020 Campaign/Handout via Reuters

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist whose progressive agenda pushed the Democratic Party sharply to the left, ended his White House campaign on Wednesday, clearing the way for a Nov. 3 election battle between former Vice President Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump.

 

Sanders, a former front-runner who promised to lead a grassroots political revolution into the White House, acknowledged he no longer had a path to the nomination after a string of nominating contest losses to Biden but promised to work with the former vice president to oust Trump.

 

He said he would stay on the ballot in future primaries and continue to gather delegates in order to push the Democratic platform toward his populist anti-corporate agenda, including a government-run healthcare system and tax hikes for the rich.

 

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign on Wednesday, making former Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive nominee to face Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election.

 

"Then together, standing united, we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history," he said in a livestreamed speech to supporters from his hometown of Burlington, Vermont.

 

The 78-year-old U.S. senator parlayed his massive campaign rallies, anti-establishment message and fervent support from young and new voters into early success in the Democratic race before losing in South Carolina in late February, leading moderate Democrats to unite behind Biden.

 

Sanders suffered a string of decisive losses through March as Democrats searched for the candidate with the best chance of beating Trump, putting the senator under growing pressure from Democrats to end his campaign and help the party unite.

 

The departure of Sanders, Biden's last remaining rival, sets up a long battle for the White House between the 77-year-old Biden and Trump, 73, who is seeking a second four-year term in office.

 

Biden praised Sanders after his departure and promised his ideas would be incorporated into his White House run. He reached out to Sanders' supporters.

 

"I see you, I hear you, and I understand the urgency of what it is we have to get done in this country," Biden said. "I hope you will join us. You are more than welcome. You’re needed."

 

Sanders' decision comes as the country grapples with a coronavirus outbreak that upended the nominating schedule, taking him off the campaign trail and leaving Sanders little opportunity to get his message across.

 

Some allies encouraged Sanders to stay in the race to further influence Biden's policy positions. But Sanders made little headway on his vow that his ambitious social programs such as raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy would expand the electorate.

 

Instead, Biden was the one who won support from a growing coalition of women and men, white and black voters, those with or without college degrees, and self-described liberals and moderates.

 

Democrats said Sanders' decision to pull out now would give the party time to come together before the August nominating convention. Some Democrats blame Sanders for staying in his 2016 race against Hillary Clinton too long, hurting her general election bid against Trump.

 

"Bernie is doing this relatively early. I think that allows more time for healing,” said Democratic operative Joel Payne, who worked for Clinton's campaign in 2016.

 

Trump, who has courted Sanders supporters and said the senator was treated unfairly by the Democratic Party, reacted quickly on Twitter.

 

"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!," Trump wrote.

 

"With Bernie Sanders suspending his campaign, it’s all but official that the Democrat establishment got the candidate they wanted in Joe Biden," Brad Parscale, Trump's campaign manager, said in a statement.

 

Many of Sanders' policy positions have become part of the mainstream Democratic Party debate, including his Medicare for All proposal that would create a government-run healthcare system to replace the current blend of private medical insurance and public programs. He also advocated a $15 minimum wage, tuition-free public colleges and higher taxes on the wealthy.

 

"Our movement has won the ideological struggle in so-called red states, blue states, and purple states," Sanders said in his livestream address.

 

After a long and bitter campaign against Clinton in 2016 that made him a well-known political commodity, Sanders entered the race with clear advantages, including an unmatched ability to raise large sums of money from small-dollar donors and a passionate base of supporters - including the so-called Bernie Bros - drawn to his anti-establishment message.

 

After he was hospitalized with chest pains in October, his campaign faced questions over why it did not immediately disclose he had had a heart attack. The campaign also did not release his full medical records despite pledging to do so.

 

(Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Trevor Hunnicutt, James Oliphant, Joseph Ax, Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-09

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Well, it's official. Democrats are now stuck with Biden. While I'm not a Bernie fan, this is the second US presidential election in which overall he is the most honest candidate out there. Therein lies the problem, Bernie. You're not supposed to admit how radicalized your party has  become. When you strip everything else away, by far the biggest difference between Bernie and other candidates is the fact Bernie admits he's a socialist. Virtually all major policy positions: Bernie and Biden are identical. Well, Bernie voted against the Iraq war and the Patriot Act. Joe Biden voted FOR both. And Joe Biden has been in the pocket of banksters for decades. In fact, he was known as "the Senator from MBNA".

 

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/11/biden-bankruptcy-president/

 

Bernie could draw HUGE crowds on a regular basis. Biden struggles to fill a high school auditorium. And that's being generous.

 

Anyway, Bernie, you gave it a good run.

Bernie is a hero, but he complains about the rich People too much. He’s isolated and Biden would never choose him as a running mate.

1 hour ago, Crazy Alex said:

Well, it's official. Democrats are now stuck with Biden. While I'm not a Bernie fan, this is the second US presidential election in which overall he is the most honest candidate out there. Therein lies the problem, Bernie. You're not supposed to admit how radicalized your party has  become. When you strip everything else away, by far the biggest difference between Bernie and other candidates is the fact Bernie admits he's a socialist. Virtually all major policy positions: Bernie and Biden are identical. Well, Bernie voted against the Iraq war and the Patriot Act. Joe Biden voted FOR both. And Joe Biden has been in the pocket of banksters for decades. In fact, he was known as "the Senator from MBNA".

 

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/11/biden-bankruptcy-president/

 

Bernie could draw HUGE crowds on a regular basis. Biden struggles to fill a high school auditorium. And that's being generous.

 

Anyway, Bernie, you gave it a good run.

 

shhhh Let them think Biden is a good move.

Biden VS Trump now. DNC got what they wanted, AGAIN. 
 

Trump will wreck Biden two ways from Tuesday. 
 

 

53 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

shhhh Let them think Biden is a good move.

Shhhhh maybe the electorate won’t notice how trump is failing and won’t take responsibility for anything shhhh

Once again the socialist loser quits and the dimwits are stuck with another un-electable half wit.

poor bernie bites the bullet,..... again

 

 

trumps ny accent may be annoying but bernie's is excruciating

Edited April 9, 20206 yr by atyclb

14 minutes ago, Tug said:

Shhhhh maybe the electorate won’t notice how trump is failing and won’t take responsibility for anything shhhh

Seems you are shhhhhhhiting your pants. 

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Biden VS Trump now. DNC got what they wanted, AGAIN. 
 

Trump will wreck Biden two ways from Tuesday. 
 

 

 

dont say stuff like that

 

it triggers me

2 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Seems you are shhhhhhhiting your pants. 

Nope not at all trump will do his regular smear gig it’s all he’s got we see who he is we haven’t forgotten 

78. he has no chance..

11 minutes ago, Tug said:

Nope not at all trump will do his regular smear gig it’s all he’s got we see who he is we haven’t forgotten 

 

Unless you are in the USA now, experiencing it you have no idea how good things for most people actually are. Premiums are paid to those still working, $1,200 per individual or $2,400 per married couple making up to $153,000. Thanks for the check.

 

Loads of people working from home, gasoline costs nothing but nobody is using it anyway, the skies are blue with out too many flights, my car insurance was lowered by 20%, my husband is home all the time because he is skilled and can work from home.

 

The stock market just went through lows as low as the Great Depression and now trades at a fair value. Summer is here and all of America will go camping to get out. Sporting goods stores would be a good stock now.

 

American companies have been able to support the government once again. Salesforce CEO Benioff is importing 50,000,000 pieces of PPE for the medical workers on his own. There are many examples like this Tim Cook and Apple, Amazon, Microsoft helping retarded government websites.

 

The mood here is really very good. Unless you live in NYC and actually watch Cuomo speak for hours in your shoebox.

 

Any sad misconception about Trump losing popularity in this crisis is markedly mistaken.

Edited April 9, 20206 yr by Cryingdick

‘Democrats got the candidate they wanted’ pity Republicans (and therefore the rest of the US) got a candidate elected they didn’t deserve. Another term will crush democracy there.

Now that the angry, bitter old man is gone, America can elect a decent, honorable, smart, and very capable leader, who may be able to bring the nation back from the brink of isolation. Biden will make a good president, and he will bring back some dignity the office, after years of P.T. Barnum. Trump already lost the election. Covid knocked him out in the first round. 

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

Now that the angry, bitter old man is gone, America can elect a decent, honorable, smart, and very capable leader, who may be able to bring the nation back from the brink of isolation. Biden will make a good president, and he will bring back some dignity the office, after years of P.T. Barnum. Trump already lost the election. Covid knocked him out in the first round. 

He has ratings more popular than ever. Stocks crossed 23,000 today, the border is closed, Mexico is paying for it by and large, there is no more talk of outlandish government programs, the language has been reduced to the simplest American and we all speak cash.

 

I haven't seen Biden on the news in weeks. I do watch all channels because I don't trade my politics.

 

Are you getting $1,200? Did you file in the past two years?

While Biden and Trump make it to the election? Biden must choose a young white female to be his running mate as they are the most likely to survive the virus. I guess that would be Klobuchar. But he could pick another female and still have a high chance viral protection in her should he died in office. That could be anyone from Kamala Harris to Hillary Clinton if she were up for it. But with the virus younger is better.

14 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

He has ratings more popular than ever. Stocks crossed 23,000 today, the border is closed, Mexico is paying for it by and large, there is no more talk of outlandish government programs, the language has been reduced to the simplest American and we all speak cash.

 

I haven't seen Biden on the news in weeks. I do watch all channels because I don't trade my politics.

 

Are you getting $1,200? Did you file in the past two years?

According to fivethirtyeight's latest tracker Trump's popularity is dropping.  People are waking up to the total incompetence of your dear leader.  Also if you like your $1200 thank Pelosi, not Trump.  

45 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Unless you are in the USA now, experiencing it you have no idea how good things for most people actually are. Premiums are paid to those still working, $1,200 per individual or $2,400 per married couple making up to $153,000. Thanks for the check.

 

Loads of people working from home, gasoline costs nothing but nobody is using it anyway, the skies are blue with out too many flights, my car insurance was lowered by 20%, my husband is home all the time because he is skilled and can work from home.

 

The stock market just went through lows as low as the Great Depression and now trades at a fair value. Summer is here and all of America will go camping to get out. Sporting goods stores would be a good stock now.

 

American companies have been able to support the government once again. Salesforce CEO Benioff is importing 50,000,000 pieces of PPE for the medical workers on his own. There are many examples like this Tim Cook and Apple, Amazon, Microsoft helping retarded government websites.

 

The mood here is really very good. Unless you live in NYC and actually watch Cuomo speak for hours in your shoebox.

 

Any sad misconception about Trump losing popularity in this crisis is markedly mistaken.

Hey were can I get some of those trump glasses?the rest of us see 6 million applying for unemployment the roll out for the small business stimulus a total fiasco record deaths all over everyone’s cooped up trying not to infect others trump blaming others trying to cover his rear end no sir I don’t see the rosey picture you describe oh and btw the stimulus package is bipartisan it wasent (granted) by trump but it’s ok November is right around the corner 

The question is can the democrats keep Biden’s ( I’m Joe Biden and I’m running for the us senate ) senility hidden for 6 more months.

 

 

Whatever you think of Trump, Biden is not a competent candidate. I assume all you that are wearing those highly rose colored glasses have seen how he handles himself in interviews lately? The guy gets very muddled and its embarrassing. There is an issue there. Can you imagine him in a debate being grilled by Trump? Having to quickly and succinctly fire back with coherent answers??? I cannot.

Like Biden said “ I will beat Trump like a drum”. I think he will. Trump is more like a deflated accordion with the infections and deaths unabated and the economy can’t recover come November. 

28 minutes ago, TooBigToFit said:

Biden must choose a young white female to be his running mate as they are the most likely to survive the virus. I guess that would be Klobuchar

 I think what is desperately needed is a shot of charisma at the democrat frontline. Klobuchar has none at all. Biden is IMO barely cognizant. The closest they can come to someone with a bit of life in them, a bit of sparkle is their old hero Mike Avenatti. I wonder if he is currently too busy to be Joe's VP?

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Hey were can I get some of those trump glasses?the rest of us see 6 million applying for unemployment the roll out for the small business stimulus a total fiasco record deaths all over everyone’s cooped up trying not to infect others trump blaming others trying to cover his rear end no sir I don’t see the rosey picture you describe oh and btw the stimulus package is bipartisan it wasent (granted) by trump but it’s ok November is right around the corner 

The chorus line is really sad and worn but that is the trump supporters only hope is a dreamland. Deny, deflect and I did it so what.

2 hours ago, TooBigToFit said:

That could be anyone from Kamala Harris to Hillary Clinton if she were up for it. But with the virus younger is better.

ToBigToFit

 

If he picked Hillary I think he would need a Presidential food taster.  

2 hours ago, TooBigToFit said:

While Biden and Trump make it to the election? Biden must choose a young white female to be his running mate as they are the most likely to survive the virus. I guess that would be Klobuchar. But he could pick another female and still have a high chance viral protection in her should he died in office. That could be anyone from Kamala Harris to Hillary Clinton if she were up for it. But with the virus younger is better.

Warren has the energy and smarts. Can you see this doofus, Pence at the debate stopping to say "lets pray", instead of answering the question?. 

When I turned 60, I retired from the corporate world, and came to Thailand.  (OK, it was an age-forced retirement package.)

Why do politicians keep going well into their seventies?

As the old saying goes You don't change horses mid streams, and the last thing the US need now is another old gizer to run the country while the world is in the grip of a calamity of a pandemic, this Sanders old goat would not even been elected to run a Kibutz let alone a country such as the US of A.. good riddance comrade...

The Democratic Party has it in their hands to unite the party by embracing 1.) raising the minimum wage 2.) embracing a national healthcare program like all developed countries provide for their citizens 3.) address reducing the cost of gaining more knowledge through higher education 4.) protecting Social Security/Medicare for retired working middle class. Motivate the working middle class to vote FOR something rather than AGAINST Trump or we face the same as 2016 ... an unmotivated working middle class electorate who no longer believes ...

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Like Biden said “ I will beat Trump like a drum”. I think he will. Trump is more like a deflated accordion with the infections and deaths unabated and the economy can’t recover come November. 

 

 

thing is biden's drumming ability is on par with that of keith moon and john bonham current drumming abilities.