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BERNIE SANDERS HAS endorsed his former rival in the US presidential campaign Joe Biden this evening.
The backing is a crucial development for Biden, who must bridge the Democratic Party’s ideological divide to unify voters against Republican president Donald Trump.
Biden and Sanders, a leading progressive, clashed throughout the primary over policy issues such as the “Medicare for All” universal health care plan.
“I am asking all Americans, 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.
The endorsement stands in contrast to the extended 2016 fight between Sanders and Hillary Clinton, who became the nominee that year.
He only endorsed her at the end of a drawn-out nominating fight and amid a bitter fight over the Democratic platform that extended to the summer convention.
Appearing in a split screen with Biden, Sanders said there is “no great secret out there that you and I have our differences”.
But he cited ongoing work between the two camps on several policy matters as a reason for the endorsement.
He added the biggest priority was defeating Trump in November.
“We’ve got to make Trump a one-term president,” Sanders said.
“I will do all that I can to make that happen.”
- With reporting by Michelle Hennessy
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Trump in a landslide
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: sure
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Trump 2020
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: unfortunately I think you’re spot on
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Actually Biden is polling strongly in the key swing states that got Donald over the line four years ago so I wouldn’t write him off so soon.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL:
Looks like Sanders is sailing off into the sunset to buy his fourth house, selling out to the Dems in the process too.
@Raven: he just endorsed Biden, which he didn’t really do with Hillary in 2016.
What’s your version of “selling out to the Dems” ?
@Raven: by selling out you mean taking part and losing with dignity. He’s not going anywhere by the way.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: I’m hoping they’d rather a brain dead president rather than a racist brain dead president
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: As someone that hates Trump, I hope he does win because the Democrats need to learn a lesson here.
@Dave O’Keeffe:
He’s never gonna make the White House, thats for sure.
4 more years of Trump it is then
@Seány: why stop there?.. Ivanka Trump in 2024-2032 / Don Jr in 2032-2040 / Eric Trump 2040-2048 / Baron Trump 2048-2056.
and those are just the spawn we know of now.
@Diaspora’d:
Your TDS just went galactic
What a shame. The world needed Sanders in office instead the contender is a man who is having cofnatuve issues. Don”t get me wrong, Bidens a good man, but he”s the wrong choice.
@The Risen: for one I will agree with you..Biden just looks like he hasn’t long left, imagine at that age still being power hungry…his only hope potentially could be his VP pick, however, not sure if a VP pick has made any impact before…maybe Kamela Harris could be good, although she didnt really set the world on fire with her own campaign
@Mark Murphy: Dick Cheney
@Mark Murphy: So why is Trump an extremely generous 10/11 with the bookies at the moment if Biden hasn’t a hope?
@Mark Murphy: but at this stage you’d have to think that if American votes to give Trump 4 more years then thats what they should get – it doesn’t matter if the dems put the Tiger King up to run the republicans an rednecks are not gonna back any Dem and will back Trump all the way – it will be down to the swing voters and they know exactly what they are in for with Trump for 4 more years so leave them to it – thats America for you !
@The Risen: you mean cognitive?
@Ciarán Seosamh: Yep LOL! Posting while watching a movie with the family while divvying up treats is never a good idea…
@Francis Mc Carthy:
It’s called money for nothing.
@The Risen: Even in America go for the most left of centre candidate. He’s younger than Sanders and his cognition is a drummed up Republican issue. Sanders had a heart attack a few months back and has since refused to disclose his medical records.
Anyone is the right choice against Trump the man who likes rallies just like your indoctrinated crew.
@David Glynn:
Biden is a demented, and has a terrible track record; a right-wit that would shame many in the GOP.
@Mark Murphy: Dude, are you serious? It will be Kloubechar no matter what. And it’s hilarious anyway. It doesn’t matter.
@The Risen: will you give up, nobody wants the left in charge, sanders got hammered again.
@Daniel Roche: especially for a country that went to war twice over socialism.
@Raven:Then go & put your mummy’s basement on Trump …
Shame, would have been way more entertaining seeing Sanders go head to head with Trump in live debates
@Seàn Mc: Wouldn’t have made a difference Trump would have refused to do live debates with Sanders.
@Diaspora’d: why?
@Caoimhín O Neill: Bernie wouldn’t play his games and would beat him on policy issues. Biden will try to get soundbites and fumble through them
@Caoimhín O Neill: Because Trump knows Sanders would slaughter him in a debate.
The economy is going to be in tatters by the time those debates would happen. Unemployment as high as what it was in the great depression, most Americans not able to afford health insurance. Trump won’t be able to argue against Sanders’ support for universal health care and Trump will already have had to increase the size and intervention big government in the economy, the same as what Sanders was advocating in the first place.
@Diaspora’d: Bye bye Sanders the commie. #4moreyears #TeamTrump
Horrendous move from the Democrats. Sanders was the only hope I could see. Trump by a country mile
Joe Biden looks like a character actor who always plays the President of the company/Country or whatever
@Sean O Cathasaigh: He be playing one again soon coz The Donald f uuked up his corona response allowing thousands to die needlessly
@D H: you think he can win a debate against Trump? You think Trumps adverts highlighting Bidens corrupt dealings with China and others wont scare lots of these voters off?
@Stephen Brady: Trump has plenty of skeletons, and frankly the death count and trumps ineptitude with crisis management will seal his fate. He is a fairweather president, talks a good show when its smooth sailing, the first real crisis of his presidency and he ballsed the whole thing up. From his head in thr sand attitude in the early days of infection to his constant blame game he plays every day. The people can see thru this fake leader.
Fair play Bernie.
Bernie was never A Democrat he was always an independent.
Never a doubt! Make it so!!!
The complete implosion of the DNC.
Cant wait for the debates. Trump will, unfortunately plaster the walls with Sleepy Joe.
Also an absolute indictment of the Democratic Party who picked the wrong, divisive candiate in Clinton last time against Trump and this time around had a choice between lads who were already washed up 4 years ago.
Victor Meldrew v Daddy Bucket (Bouquet)
Wow he’s gonna do two terms, who’d have thought. Strange times.
Who really cares ? What actually has Trump done to be hated ?
I cannot see anything that Trump has done in his Presidency that has damaged the status quo.
People only hate him because it is fashionable to do so.
As a matter of fact he has been Out-Trumped by Covid 19 that will be his legacy.
A younger mans job
@Chris Marsh: so not trump then either eh?
@Chris Marsh: Really, a communist president of the USA? Sorry Chris but of all recent comments, yours defies belief. However, well done on your ability to spell.
No Refunds!
USA number one under Trump.
USA is number one of deaths from this virus
USA is number one for number of infected.
Oh yeah, Trump has done an excellent job running the USA. He put an economy above people’s lives and now the USA will be hit hardest and will go into recession anyway.
“slow clap”
Well, at least he’s made the USA number one for something I guess….
@Barry: hey Barry, by your Tone it seems like you’re quite happy with the high levels of dead and sick if it suits your argument.
@Barry: obsessed. #4moreyears #TeamTrump
Glad Bernie has given a more energetic endorsement than his lukewarm support of Hillary. Biden is unfortunately a poor choice for the Dems, but they have chosen and are closer to it than we are. Don’t believe the dementia BS spread by Trump support
@BrianG: can you blame bernies lack of support for Hillary. She literally sabotaged his race.
Bernie is a two times sell out and the democratic party is a disgrace if thats all they have to offer in Joe Biden .
maybe the american voters have a different view than you
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_biden-6247.html
Biden is the absolutely the wrong candidate ..If the democrats are really serious about beating Trump they should consider replacing him with Al Gore ..Given his record on promoting climate change awareness and protecting the environment ..Gore is one of the few who could unite the whole party and bring millions of new young voters with him… in light of current circumstances he would be the ideal candidate to defeat Trump… the election of 2000 was stolen from him …Biden clearly needs to be replaced..Hilary is too tainted and its too early for Cuomo ….Gore is only 72 , he is available and he would a popular choice and would likely win . The world doesn’t need 4 more years of Trump
@Barry Rattigan: of course he is. But they passed on everyone else! Gore could never raise the money. Now Bloomberg will have to finance a SuperPAC.
@Barry Rattigan: Cuomo is 62. Only real option if Biden falters. He’s not ruling it out and could be drafted.
Gore had his shot and just doesn’t connect with people. ABT.
@David Glynn: Cuomo has wrecked the state of New York. No thanks.
Yep #4moreyears #TeamTrump guaranteed now.
#ABT2020
Sanders doesn’t do creepy things like smelling women’s hair, and speaking of hair, at least Bernie’s was not transplanted. One thing about Bernie you get what you see.
Barack is very quiet..something amiss.
@Pat Frost: a war criminal but a liberal media darling. Go figure.
Sanders, the last hurrah for bourgeois Social Democracy. As ignominious an end as his own pathetic ideology was
DNC will ensure that Bernie is getting a Hamptons estate this time round.
Weekend at BERNIES d age of him
With Bernie gone they are truly screwed!….
Facts are that if Biden was in charge for the last few months America would be in a far less hole than they are in right now.
Biden in late January was telling Trump to get ready… Trump ignored him.
Biden’s team will consist of professionals that will be able to to the job. Trump’s team has been a bunch of misfits who have been led by ideology.
Yes Bernie could have had a chance. Trump has shown us he is a failure. The most important thing he has to do is keep America safe and he failed.
He missed the chance to prepare.
He has run the crisis like an ego boost.
He is either woefully misinformed or just lying.
Some are going to Biden wouldn’t have been up to it. Look how a real President handles it in Obama. Appoint experts and get out of there way and be there if they need to escalate.
I only see Trapattoni on left there
Trump has fanatical, die hard, dug in support, it’s hard to see Biden inspiring the voters in the way Obama did, he’s heavily reliant on the black vote and Trump has been deregistering them in their hundreds of thousands for years. They’re a low voting demographic anyway. Economic slavery will do that to you. It’s madness but history won’t lie and Trump won’t be around to call it fake.
have your say