Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Socialist candidate from Vermot, has dropped out of the 2020 Presidential Election race.
Sanders took to a live stream this morning to tell his supporters of his decision to drop out: “As I see the crisis gripping the nation, I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere in the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour.”
His exit looks to end the wild race for the Democratic nomination that has been ongoing for several months. The field originally saw one of the most diverse selections of nominees who came from all kinds of backgrounds with various policies, and it ends with Biden, a white man who no one thought really had a chance.
Sanders said in his stream that his name would remain on the ballots in the remaining states on the calendar, and would attempt to garner more delegates to influence the Democrats’ convention.
Sanders has been one of the most captivating – and divisive – candidates we have seen in recent memory. His far left-leaning views have earned the loyalty of a large group of Americans, and the criticisms of others.
His Medicare-for-all and free public college tuition were two of his biggest points that he was campaigning on. In doing so, he helped shift the national debate over what role a government could play.
“Few would deny that over the course of the past five years, our movement has won the ideological struggle,” he explained in his stream.
Sanders surged in preliminary polling, but was unable to get the support of most Democrats. His left-leaning politics just didn’t seem to mesh with many of the middle-ground Democrats whose votes ultimately went to Biden.
This is the next step in a wild election cycle, as the growing coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the field, eliminating the in-person rallies and other gatherings.
Democrats are sure to have a big challenge on their hands: that of uniting their base. In 2016, the Democratic base was split due to a split between Sanders supporters and those of Hillary Clinton, leaving them disjointed and unable to win the presidency.
They are going to have to find some way to unite their support if they want to take on President Trump.
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