Page 22 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 19 March 2020

Sanders' campaign says he is reassessing, not dropping out

By WILL WEISSERT and BRIAN tage with Hispanics.
SLODYSKO But the primary calendar
Associated Press will be disrupted by the
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dem- public health and eco-
ocratic presidential candi- nomic havoc wreaked
date Bernie Sanders said by the coronavirus. Ohio
Wednesday that he is reas- canceled its Tuesday pri-
sessing his campaign, rais- mary just hours before polls
ing questions about wheth- opened, citing concerns
er he will drop out after los- about spread of the virus.
ing three more states and The chairman of the Demo-
falling prohibitively behind cratic National Committee,
Joe Biden in the 2020 race. Tom Perez, criticized Ohio
A Sanders spokesman de- for closing polls on such
nied a report that the Ver- short notice. But he also
mont senator was suspend- urged states with upcom-
ing his campaign, but that ing primaries to expand
word came as Sanders vote-by-mail and absentee
pulled down digital adver- balloting, as well as polling
tising on Facebook and In this image from video provided by BernieSanders.com, Democratic presidential candidate station hours.
Google, triggering further Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks from Washington, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Louisiana, Georgia, Ken-
confusion in a contest al- Associated Press tucky and Maryland joined
ready upended by the Ohio in moving to push
coronavirus. to collect nearly twice as candidates. During online ing on Sanders to drop out back their upcoming pri-
Earlier Wednesday, cam- many delegates as Sand- remarks before most re- in the name of party unity. maries, and others may yet
paign manager Faiz Shakir ers on Tuesday. Sanders sults were in, Sanders said Four years ago, Sanders do so. As Shakir noted, that
said Sanders "is going to now needs to win more little about the future of the kept alive his primary bid has left the primary calen-
be having conversations than 63% of the remaining race. against Hillary Clinton for dar empty until March 29,
with supporters to assess 1,757 delegates. President On Tuesday, Trump formally months, even as it became when Puerto Rico votes.
his campaign." But Shakir Donald Trump awaits the clinched the Republican clear he had no chance of But island leaders are work-
also suggested that Sand- nominee. presidential nomination af- winning. ing to reschedule ballot-
ers was in no hurry to make For Sanders, catching up ter facing minimal opposi- In the latest primaries, ing there, too. That means
any decisions about end- would be the tallest of or- tion. On the Democratic Biden maintained strength there is nowhere for Sand-
ing his 2020 bid, noting that ders under any circum- side, higher vote totals in with African Americans ers to gain ground on Biden
"the next primary contest is stances. But that task is some key states suggested and older voters. He also anytime soon, even if he
at least three weeks away." even tougher in a political enthusiasm that even the appeared to chip away at could find a way to mount
More immediately, Shakir world turned upside-down, coronavirus couldn't con- Sanders' previous advan- a sudden surge.q
said, Sanders "is focused along with daily life, amid tain. Turnout in Florida's
on the government re- efforts to combat a pan- Democratic primary sur-
sponse to the coronavirus demic that has killed more passed the 1.7 million who
outbreak and ensuring that than 100 people in the Unit- cast ballots four years ago.
we take care of working ed States. Some Democrats are call-
people and the most vul- Neither candidate is trav-
nerable." eling or holding campaign
Reports later surfaced that rallies, and much of the
Sanders was suspending electorate has been stay-
his campaign, prompting ing home.
spokesman Mike Casca With the exception of North
to say that the candidate Dakota and the Northern
was "not suspending. Noth- Mariana Islands, Sanders
ing has changed since this has not won a contest since
morning's statement." Super Tuesday on March
In the meantime, Sanders' 3. He made no moves to
campaign deactivated contact Biden immediately
digital ads purchased as after Tuesday's results, ac-
recently as Tuesday. cording to people famil-
Even if Sanders decides to iar with the situation who
keep running, he has little discussed the matter on
hope of catching Biden, the condition of anonym-
who used victories in Flor- ity because they were not
ida, Illinois and Arizona authorized to speak for the