Leftist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has revealed that he does not plan to run for president in 2024, instead electing to back Joe Biden, who announced Tuesday that he hopes to secure the White House a second time.
“The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman’s right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia,” Sanders said in an interview, according to the Associated Press. “So, I’m in to do what I can to make sure that the president is reelected.”
The outlet noted that many American voters in both the Democrat and Republican Party do not want Biden to run for president again, with a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reporting that only 37% of Democrats say he should seek a second term, marking a sharp decline from 52% in the weeks prior to last year’s midterm elections.
Meanwhile, only 22% of American adults overall responded positively to the notion of Biden making another White House run.
Forbes reported that Sanders’ announcement suggests the 81-year-old Senator is officially done with making presidential runs.
Sen. Bernie Sanders told media on Tuesday he will not embark on a third-straight campaign for president and will instead endorse President Joe Biden’s reelection, signaling a likely end to the 81-year-old’s presidential ambitions. pic.twitter.com/UpAow5p1Lg
— Forbes (@Forbes) April 26, 2023
Sanders, a self-described socialist, seemingly attempted to dissuade other left-wingers from running against Biden in the 2024 Democrat presidential primary.
“People will do what they want to do,” Sanders reportedly said about potential challengers of Biden. “I think Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee. And my job, and I think the progressive movement’s job, is to make certain that he stands up and fights for the working class of this country and does not take anything for granted.”
The Vermont Senator stressed that as the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, it is his role to ensure that “Biden gets reelected” and to see what he can do to assist with shifting American policy in a way that benefits workers.
Upon being asked if he plans to run for re-election in the Senate, Sanders did not provide a direct answer, telling CBS News, “People in Vermont have not been asking that, only media here in Washington.”
