Bernie Sanders voices support for Joe Biden’s candidacy: ‘Stop the bickering’
- The prominent left-wing senator’s comments come amid growing calls from some Democrats for Biden to drop out of the White House race
Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent figure of the US political left, on Saturday threw his support behind Joe Biden’s White House campaign, dismissing calls for the president to withdraw from the race over health concerns.
“Enough! Mr Biden may not be the ideal candidate, but he will be the candidate and should be the candidate,” independent senator Sanders wrote in a New York Times column, adding that “it’s time for Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking.”
Sanders’ column comes amid steadily growing calls from Democratic officials and donors for the 81-year-old Biden to step aside following a disastrous performance in his June 27 debate with former president Donald Trump. So far, some 20 members of Congress have called for him to leave the race.
Most polls taken since the debate show Trump with a national lead over Biden, though within the margin of error. They also show some key battleground states, including Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, shifting in the Republican’s favour.
And a majority of Americans – including Democrats – believe Biden is too old to serve again, according to a recent poll.
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US President Biden confuses Harris for Trump, Zelensky for Putin amid campaign scrutiny
Nor did the president help his own cause when, at a summit in Washington earlier this week, he mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as his foe Vladimir Putin, before quickly correcting himself.