Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told supporters Thursday that he will work with Hillary Clinton to transform the Democratic party and "create the America that we know we can become."
But what supporters didn't hear him say is that he would endorse Clinton, the presumptive nominee, or that he is getting out of the race.
Sanders said he will join with Clinton to focus on defeating Donald Trump in a general election, and he would begin that process soon.
>>What Bernie Sanders said to his supporters last night
Here’s what they are saying about Bernie Sanders’ livestream speech.
He’s not ready to concede
“Bernie Sanders is not ready to concede his presidential campaign, nor is he ready to throw his support behind Hillary Clinton, leaving his political future murky. That was the takeaway from a much anticipated teleconference Sanders held with supporters Thursday evening, more than a week after Clinton clinched the Democratic presidential nomination and amidst the flight of many of his top supporters.”
His campaign is fighting on
“The primaries are officially over. Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump are attacking each other over the Orlando tragedy. Final touches are being made to convention plans. Running mates are being vetted. But on Thursday night, Senator Bernie Sanders stood at a podium in a small, chilly television studio here pointing his index finger at a camera and insisting to his supporters that his campaign was fighting on. With five bright lights illuminating him, Mr. Sanders delivered a shortened version of his stump speech via livestream to his supporters, saying his “political revolution” was just beginning and reeling off the many injustices it would set about to end.”
Transforming the Democratic Party
“Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders promised in a video address on Thursday night to continue his political revolution, declining to concede the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton despite losing a majority of votes to his rival. Still, he vowed in his video address to do whatever he could do to help Clinton defeat Donald Trump in a general election, promising to work with her to “transform the Democratic Party.” ”
Going after Trump
“Bernie Sanders isn’t ready to drop out of the presidential race just yet, but he’s alerting his followers to what he views as a serious threat to the country. "This campaign is about defeating Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president," he said in a live video message to supporters on Thursday. "After centuries of racism, sexism and discrimination of all forms in our country, we do not need a major party candidate who makes bigotry the cornerstone of his campaign." ”
Fight for "the most progressive platform"
"Bernie Sanders vowed Thursday to fight for "the most progressive platform" in Democratic Party history as well as reforms to the party itself, in an online address to supporters in which the presidential candidate made clear he's not dropping out yet -- but is ready to start working with presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.”
"We must continue our grassroots effort”
“Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on Thursday night shifted the focus of his presidential campaign, re-framing it as a long-term movement and pledging to fight for change at the Democratic National Convention and beyond. "We must continue our grassroots effort to create the America that we know we can become. And we must take that energy into the Democratic National Convention." ”
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