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A26 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 9 april 2020
Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee

By WILL WEISSERT a key architect of many
Associated Press of the social policies that
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. dominated the Demo-
Bernie Sanders ended his cratic primary, including a
presidential bid on Wednes- "Medicare for All" universal,
day, making Joe Biden the government-funded health
presumptive Democratic care plan, tuition-free pub-
nominee to challenge lic college, a $15 minimum
President Donald Trump in wage and sweeping efforts
a general election cam- to fight climate change un-
paign that will be waged der the "Green New Deal."
against the backdrop of Sanders began the 2020
the coronavirus pandemic. race by arguing that he
Sanders initially exceed- was the most electable
ed sky-high expectations Democrat against Trump.
about his ability to recreate He said his working-class
the magic of his 2016 presi- appeal could help Demo-
dential bid, and even over- crats win back Rust Belt
came a heart attack last states that Trump won in
October. But he couldn't 2016, including Michigan,
convert unwavering sup- Wisconsin and Pennsylva-
port from progressives into nia. But as the race wore
a viable path to the nomi- on, the senator reverted to
nation, with "electability" In this March 15, 2020, file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden prepares for a Democratic his 2016 roots, repeatedly
fears fueled by questions presidential primary debate with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at CNN Studios in Washington. stressing that he backs a
about whether his demo- Associated Press. "political revolution" from
cratic socialist ideology had a "short conversation" no guarantees he'd be a But Biden won a crucial en- the bottom up under the
would be palatable to with Sanders on Wednes- major presidential con- dorsement from influential slogan "Not me. Us."
general election voters. day. "He didn't just run a tender this cycle. South Carolina Rep. Jim Sanders, 78, also faced
"The path toward victory is political campaign. He cre- But Sanders used strong Clyburn and a subsequent, persistent questions about
virtually impossible," Sand- ated a movement," Biden polling and solid fundrais- larger-than-expected vic- being the field's oldest can-
ers told supporters Wednes- said. "That's a good thing ing — collected almost en- tory in South Carolina, didate. Those were pushed
day. "If I believed we had a for our nation and our fu- tirely from small donations which propelled him into into the spotlight on Oct.
feasible path to the nomi- ture. His campaign has made online — to quiet Super Tuesday, when he 1, when he was at a rally
nation I would certainly ended, but I know his lead- early doubters. Like the first won 10 of 14 states. in Las Vegas and asked for
continue the campaign, ership will continue." time, he attracted wide- In a matter of days, Biden's a chair to be brought on
but it's just not there." Trump sought to foment the spread support from young former Democratic rivals stage so he could sit down.
He called Biden a "very de- tension among Democrats voters and made new in- lined up to endorse him. His Suffering from chest pains
cent man" but didn't offer by tweeting Wednesday roads within the Hispanic campaign had appeared afterward, he underwent
an explicit endorsement of that the party stacked the community, even as his on the brink of collapse surgery to insert two stints
the former vice president. race against Sanders. The appeal with African Ameri- after New Hampshire but because of a blocked ar-
Sanders said his name president said the senator's cans remained weak. found new life as the rest of tery, and his campaign re-
would remain on the ballot supporters "should come to Sanders amassed the most the party's more moderate vealed two days later that
in states that have not yet the Republican Party." votes in Iowa and New establishment coalesced he had suffered a heart at-
held primaries so he can Sanders began his latest Hampshire, which opened around him as an alterna- tack.
gain more delegates and White House bid facing primary voting, and cruised tive to Sanders. A serious health scare that
"exert significant influence" questions about whether to an easy victory in Ne- Things only got worse the might have derailed other
on the Democratic plat- he could win back the sup- vada — seemingly leaving following week when Sand- campaigns seemed only
form. porters who chose him four him well positioned to sprint ers lost Michigan, where to help Sanders as his al-
Biden, who is backed by years ago as an insurgent to the Democratic nomina- he had campaigned hard ready-strong fundraising
much of the party's estab- alternative to Hillary Clin- tion while a deeply crowd- and upset Clinton in 2016. got stronger and rising stars
lishment, told supporters at ton. Despite winning 22 ed and divided field of al- He was also beaten in Mis- on the Democratic left, in-
a virtual fundraiser that he states in 2016, there were ternatives sunk around him. souri, Mississippi and Idaho cluding Rep. Alexandria
the same night, and the re- Ocasio-Cortez, endorsed
New Jersey delays primary to July sults were so decisive that him. Many supporters
Sanders headed to Ver-
said the heart attack only
because of virus outbreak mont without speaking to strengthened their resolve
the media.
to back him.
The coronavirus outbreak Massachusetts Sen. Eliza-
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Murphy said he's not taking worst-hit states in the coun- essentially froze the cam- beth Warren outshone
Jersey pushed back its pri- a mail-in ballot only elec- try by the coronavirus. More paign, preventing Sanders him throughout much of
mary to July 7 from June 2 tion off the table but hasn't than 1,500 people have from holding the large ral- the summer, but Sanders
because of the coronavrus decided. He specifically died as a result, and the lies that had become his worked his way back up
outbreak under an execu- cited Wisconsin, where a state has been essentially trademark and shifting the in the polls. The two pro-
tive order Gov. Phil Murphy primary went forward de- on lockdown for weeks. primary calendar. It be- gressive candidates spent
signed on Wednesday. spite the health threat. The Democrat mentioned came increasingly unclear months refusing to attack
Preparing for a June prima- New Jersey residents specifically that he doesn't where he could notch a each other, though Sand-
ry at the potential head of should not have to choose want to repeat what Wis- victory that would help ers offered a strong de-
the COVID-19 emergency between their right to vote consin had with people him regain ground against fense of Medicare for All
could hurt election officials' and their personal health, having to choose between Biden. after Warren offered a plan
ability to prepare, the order Murphy said. their right to vote and Though he will not be the for a transition to it that
states. New Jersey is among the keeping healthy.q nominee, Sanders was would take years. q