Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said Tuesday that he would forgo another presidential bid of his own and instead endorse President Joe Biden\u2019s reelection.
The leading progressive, who was Biden\u2019s chief rival in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, told The Associated Press that he would \u201cdo everything I can to see the president is reelected.\u201d
\u201cThe last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman\u2019s right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia,\u201d Sanders said in an interview. \u201cSo, I\u2019m in to do what I can to make sure that the president is reelected.\u201d
Biden on Tuesday announced his decision to seek a second term, even as polls suggest that voters in both parties don\u2019t want him to run again. The Democratic president will face the winner of the crowded Republican primary, which features former President Donald Trump and a half dozen lower-profile conservatives.
For much of the year, Sanders had left open the possibility of running again himself. On Tuesday, he said that he would not run and he discouraged any another high-profile progressive candidates from doing so either.
His decision suggests that the progressive wing of the Democratic Party will ultimately unify behind Biden\u2019s 2024 bid, even if progressives aren\u2019t excited about him.
\u201cPeople will do what they want to do,\u201d Sanders said of other potential primary challenges. \u201cI think Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee. And my job, and I think the progressive movement\u2019s job, is to make certain that he stands up and fights for the working class of this country and does not take anything for granted.\u201d
Sanders\u2019 decision also signals that, at 81 years old, he will never again seek the presidency.
The silver-haired democratic socialist with the thick Brooklyn accent emerged as a leading progressive voice in the 2016 presidential contest and was in position to secure the presidential nomination in 2020 before his rivals unified behind Biden\u2019s candidacy.
In forgoing another presidential bid of his own, Sanders said he would continue to fight for progressive policies as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in addition to helping form new labor unions.
\u201cRunning for president was a wonderful privilege,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cI enjoyed it very much and I hope we had some impact on the nature of American politics. But right now, my job is to do what I can as chairman of the (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) committee, to see Biden gets reelected and to see what I can do to help transform policy in America to help protect the needs of workers.\u201d
He said it was too early to say what specific role he would play in helping Biden win reelection in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n