Sanders doesn’t rule out 2020 White House run
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the University of Cincinnati on Nov. 3. President Barack Obama hands over the White House to Republican Donald Trump in 71 days, leaving the Democratic Party leaderless and with few up-and-coming stars among its aging cast of stalwarts.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. spoke at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. on Oct. 24. The defeat of Clinton, an experienced Washington politician who sought common ground with Republicans, could make it more likely that the party will turn to its liberal wing as it grapples with its future.
WASHINGTON » Bernie Sanders is leaving open the possibility of another presidential bid as shell-shocked liberals focus on helping the Democratic Party rebuild after Donald Trump’s victory.
“Four years is a long time from now,” said the 75-year-old Vermont independent, noting that he faces re-election to the Senate in 2018. But he added: “We’ll take one thing at a time, but I’m not ruling out anything.”
Democrats have begun postelection soul searching, with Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., urging the party to embrace a more populist economic message. As some Democrats protested across the country, the party’s liberal wing began jockeying for power, arguing that Clinton’s loss could be attributed to her reluctance to fully focus on economic inequality and tougher Wall Street regulations.
“The final results may have divided us — but the entire electorate embraced deep, fundamental reform of our economic system and our political system,” Warren told the AFL-CIO today. “Working families across this country are deeply frustrated about an economy and a government that doesn’t work for them.”
Warren laid out the principles she believes should govern Democrats during the Trump era: Standing up to bigotry, pushing for economic equality and combatting the influence of Wall Street.
“We will fight back against attacks on Latinos, African Americans, women, Muslims, immigrants, disabled Americans — on anyone. Whether Donald Trump sits in a glass tower or sits in the White House, we will not give an inch on this, not now, not ever,” she said.
The sweeping Republican gains have thrown the future of the party into uncertainty, as Democrats process the scale of their losses and try to figure out the best way to come back in the 2018 elections. The Democratic National Committee may end up being ground zero for the fight, with no clear successor in line to replace interim chairwoman Donna Brazile.
Sanders is backing Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison.
Warren and Sanders were articulating the frustrations among many liberals in the aftermath of Trump’s stunning triumph over Hillary Clinton. But their influence underscores another problem facing Democrats: Many of the party’s leading voices are senior citizens, older than their core constituencies of young and minority voters. Warren is 67.
Sanders said that millions of working-class voters’ decision to back Trump was “an embarrassment” to the party and Democrats must take a strong stand against the role of corporate interests in politics. He said the party as a whole was unable to make a strong enough case to struggling workers, particularly in the industrial Midwest, who sided with Trump.
“You cannot be a party which, on one hand, says we’re in favor of working people, we’re in favor of the needs of young people, but we don’t quite have the courage to take on Wall Street and the billionaire class. People do not believe that. You’ve got to decide which side you’re on.”
While Clinton pushed for greater financial regulation and higher taxes on the wealthy, she shied away from his more populist rhetoric. And she also largely ignored white working-class male voters in favor of trying to boost turnout among minority and female supporters.
The decision infuriated former President Bill Clinton who argued to campaign officials that they should pay greater attention to the voters who twice boosted her husband to office. During the long primary slog against Sanders, he insisted the campaign make stops in Wisconsin, which ended up being the last time either Clinton appeared in the state.
Wisconsin voted for Trump, shocking many in her campaign.
23 responses to “Sanders doesn’t rule out 2020 White House run”
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Tulsi is ecstatic to hear that! Bernie knows Wikileaks got his back…no DNC shenanigans !
Bernie would have gotten my vote. Just could not vote for Hillary due to multiple ethical oversights. The third party candidates got many Clinton votes and are actually probably going to run the country soon as they have a platform that appeals to many of the young and working Americans of all stripe.
Agreed. I’ve been mostly a conservative independent, and still cannot believe more support didn’t shift to Gary Johnson. The Libertarians have greatly increased their recognition, and after the next four years may be primed for serious consideration.
Retire already old man, let someone else have a job, I did.
No way Bernie would stand a chance. I liked some of the things he said, but knew he was a no hoper. During the general he’d have been slapped with the “socialist” label and that would’ve ended things right. I know a “democratic socialist,” as he is, is different, but most people would not have made that in the senate. Plus he’ll be 79 then; sorry, no.
If they don’t learn from this that special interest groups of every kind aren’t going to win an election. Then that’s ok by me We are all tired of special interest groups being treated better than us regular working salaried educated and not as educated, but good people nonetheless. Trump apparently appealed to people looking for everyone equality not more equality treatment of special interest
Bernie if he’s really fir everyone should loudly denounce the spoiled brat protestors.
Bernie might shock the world!
I think Sanders would have stood a good chance of beating Trump. Its a shame that the local old boys club gave Hillary a portion of our delegates and went against the majority of Hawaii voters – I understand that our local delegate rules did allow for that.
A 79 year old President?
Just because the Leftist Media chose to ignore his age (unlike how they came after Reagan and McCain) doesn’t mean its not an issue.
Saunders is dome. He will return from whence he came. He has no credibility as it is clear he sold out and got paid to take a dive.
His only source of support if any will come from the communist/ hard core socialist left. Even they know he sold out.
He did not “sell out.” He lost the primary. He went on to support the nominee. He didn’t “get paid to take a dive”; ridiculous notion.
Poor ole’ Bern. Dementia already kicking in thinking he’ll have enough stamina by then.
He fails to realize that Trump could improve the economy to the point where the whole country might want Trump back for a 2nd term after making America great again.
The economy will not improve. I don’t believe all of Trump’s rhetoric will come to pass — that “wall” will never be built — but I do believe that once he and his pals get going, we’ll be back in a recession. Personally, I’m starting to sell as many of possessions as I can to help weather the storm.
At 70 years old, Trump is the oldest elected president. Sanders would be 79. Hard to imagine people voting for anyone that old, but then again, it was hard for me to imagine someone like Trump winning.
“Sanders doesn’t rule out 2020 White House run”
We already know that it’s not up to Bernie OR the people. It’s up to the DNC insiders and “Super Delegates” to decide.
Clean house DNC, throw out the trash and then get back to us.
Not that I can agree with!! Both parties needed to clean house
With Trump’s victory, the GOP is already on the way.
By the time 2020 elections roll around Sanders would have forgotten why he wanted to run for office…he should consider retiring already and let the next generation take over….
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! stop it! I’m my sides are hurting
The “next generation” is too busy rioting right now to care..
Bernie has lost all credibility when he threw his supporters under the bus and supported Hillary Clinton. His supporters were livid !The DNC played Colonel Sanders like a hot buffalo wing! To me he would have been a better choice than Hillary. I’m just saying.
This guy is a loon. They need to be grooming booker
Curb Your Enthusiasm.