BERNIE SANDERS IS ending his second bid for the presidency, the campaign staff was informed on a conference call Wednesday morning, according to campaign sources.
Sanders’s departure from the race comes a day after the state of Wisconsin went forward with a controversial in-person election, which Sanders had called to be postponed. The Vermont senator was momentarily the frontrunner for the nomination, following a popular-vote win in Iowa, a win in New Hampshire, and a decisive victory in Nevada. His chances fell apart in South Carolina, where the dean of the state party, Rep. Jim Clyburn, gave an impassioned endorsement to former Vice President Joe Biden. A race that had been narrowing turned into a blowout.
Party moderates then coalesced around Biden, who soared in the polls, pulling off the biggest comeback in the shortest amount of time, measured by a swing in the polls, since the modern primary process began in 1972. Biden won a majority of states on Super Tuesday and continued racking up victories throughout March.
US Institute of Peace officially renamed for Trump as White House moves to dismantle agency: ‘Congratulations’
Feds arrest felon illegal immigrant after seizing tens of millions in meth stashed in blackberries
Elderly Texas woman learns fate for distributing 150,000 doses of fentanyl through the mail
Model, DJ linked to violent Tren de Aragua gang leader sanctioned by Trump administration
Social media reactions reveal why both parties celebrated after GOP candidate won special election
Prince William Plans to ‘Slash and Burn’ Royal Establishment, Harry and Meghan: Report
Ghislaine Maxwell pushes back on full transparency for Epstein files
Trump warns US may launch land operations inside Venezuela ‘very soon,’ says regime sent ‘killers’ to America
Ex-CNN Anchor Who Quit News Industry Under Cloud of Controversy Is Now Dead
Americans want US to lead globally but doubt military can win major wars overseas, survey finds
The Tennessee ‘waltz’: Republicans and Democrats dance around meaning of special election results
Family Demands Answers After Texas A&M Student Mysteriously Dies After Football Tailgate
New Poll Shows That ‘Likely Voters’ Have Been Duped Regarding the Politics of Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin
Watch: Irish ‘New Republican Movement’ Declares Local Politicians Legit Targets Over Mass Immigration – But Is the Video Real?
‘A Win for Customers and Common Sense’: Trump Axes Biden Auto Regulations Meant to Force Americans Into EVs
Some in Sanders’s inner circle — including, most vocally, Our Revolution Chair and labor leader Larry Cohen — urged Sanders to stay in the race in order to build his delegate total and leverage that for policy wins within the Democratic Party’s platform. Others argued the platform is largely meaningless and that his greatest leverage is in the Senate, where the economy is being reshaped by an ongoing series of relief efforts historic in scope and scale.
The Sanders campaign had raised $182 million by the end of February, with roughly $19 million cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission records. The Biden campaign, meanwhile, had raised $88 million and had $12 million cash on hand at that point in the campaign.
Sanders’s exit is a boost for Biden, particularly as it relates to campaign finance. Without a primary opponent, he can move more quickly to the general election phase of the race, during which he can spend money raised for that purpose. Had the contest gone all the way to the August convention without Biden having locked up the necessary delegates, he would be restricted to his scarce primary funds only. It’s not entirely clear when Biden can tap general election funds, and lawyers are working to move the date up as much as possible, sources said.
Sanders will be addressing his supporters via livestream at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Story cited here.
