“We have to make Trump a one-term president,” senator said in farewell speech
Senator Bernie Sanders formally endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Monday. The endorsement comes after Sanders suspended his campaign last week.
The Sanders endorsement was followed by endorsements from former presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren and former President Barack Obama.
The endorsements effectively make Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
“We have to make Trump a one-term president and we need you in the White House,” Sanders said to Biden during a virtual event.
Sanders had initially only suspended his campaign, and said Sanders stated that he would remain on ballots in order to “exert significant influence over the party platform.”
“While Vice President Biden will be the nominee, we must continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible at the Democratic Convention, where we will be able to exert significant influence over the party platform and other functions,” Sanders said before his endorsement.
Sanders has won 916 delegates so far, an amount equal to approximately three-fourths of Biden’s 1,215 delegates.
There are still 1,687 delegates remaining.
Sanders tied for first place in New Hampshire alongside former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with nine delegates apiece. He won in Nevada, Vermont, Colorado, California, North Dakota and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Throughout his campaign, Sanders focused on issues like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and debt-free education. Sanders had a large appeal to LatinX and young voters.
Biden reiterated this sentiment when making a statement after Sanders’ campaign suspension.
“I know how hard a decision this was for him to make, and how hard it is for the millions of his supporters — especially younger voters — who have been inspired and energized and brought into politics by the progressive agenda he has championed.”
Xavier students who supported Sanders’ campaign still feel that his message is relevant. Anna Sewell, a member of the Xavier Socialists organization, believes that Sanders’ issues and stances go beyond the election.
“Bernie’s campaign has never solely been about Sanders and the presidency, but of the American people and a political revolution,” Sewell said of the suspension. “It’s about you, your neighbor, your friend, your coworker, all of us standing together and saying enough.”
“The values and ideas within the campaign will remain relevant beyond any election cycle. We may be down, but we’re not out; the fight must go on,” Sewell said.
Biden noted that Sanders’ political ideologies led him to create something beyond traditional politics, citing the unique level of support that Sanders garnered from his voters.
“Bernie has done something rare in politics. He hasn’t just run a political campaign; he’s created a movement,” Biden said.
Bernie officially endorsed Biden on April 13 during a livestream with both men.
“I’m asking every Democrat, I’m asking every independent, I’m asking a lot of Republicans to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse,” Sanders said to Biden during the video.
“To your supporters,” Biden said, “I make the same commitment: I see you, I hear you and I understand the urgency of what it is we have to get done in this country.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.