Unable to campaign for the last four weeks because of the outbreak of the Coronavirus, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced on Wednesday that he was ending his bid for the White House in 2020, meaning that former Vice President Joe Biden is the likely nominee of the Democratic Party.
“Today I am suspending my campaign. But while the campaign ends, the struggle for justice continues on,” Sanders said. “I congratulate Joe Biden, a very decent man, who I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward.”
While Sanders started the 2020 campaign fast with wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, his campaign floundered after Joe Biden's strong victory in South Carolina on February 29, as other candidates dropped out and rallied behind the former Vice President.
“Today I congratulate Joe Biden,” Sanders said.
The primary results were a far cry from 2016, when Sanders battled Hillary Clinton for months in a close race for the Democratic Party nomination.
In his announcement, Sanders said this was not an easy move.
“In fact, it has been a very difficult and painful decision,” as Sanders acknowledged that he understands why some of his supporters want to fight on.
“I cannot in good conscience, continue to mount a campaign that cannot win,” Sanders added, making clear he would support Biden in November and work to defeat President Trump.
In a written statement, Biden thanked Sanders.
“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,” Biden said from Delaware.
Sanders pointedly noted the outbreak of the Coronavirus as one reason why conducting a futile effort to win the Democratic nomination would be counterproductive.
“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,” Sanders said.
National Democrats welcomed the Sanders decision.
“Now it’s time to come together and unite around our presumptive nominee. It’s time to finish the job and send Joe Biden to the White House,” said DNC Chairman Tom Perez.
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