Poor Bernie.
The Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders got drubbed again in primaries on Tuesday and is now in deep reflection over whether to continue his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
“The next primary contest is three weeks away,” Sanders’s campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, said in a statement. “Sen. Sanders is going to be having conversations with his supporters to assess his campaign.”
“In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people and the most vulnerable.”
Biden swept to victory in the Arizona, Florida and Illinois primaries on Tuesday, winning Florida by nearly 40 points and taking Illinois by more than 20 points. In Arizona, which is continuing to count the vote, Biden led Sanders by double digits.
Back on March 3 — Super Tuesday — Biden stomped Sanders, winning 10 of 14 contests.
Even though the pledged delegates appear close — Biden has 1,153 and Sanders has 861 — more than 40% of the delegates have now been pledged. Candidates need at least 1,991 delegates to officially clinch the nomination.
President Trump took the opportunity to needle Sanders, who he said “soon” be dropping out of the Democratic primary race and saying he has already “given up.”
“The DNC will have gotten their fondest wish and defeated Bernie Sanders, far ahead of schedule,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “Now they are doing everything possible to be nice to him in order to keep his supporters. Bernie has given up, just like he did last time. He will be dropping out soon!”
The DNC will have gotten their fondest wish and defeated Bernie Sanders, far ahead of schedule. Now they are doing everything possible to be nice to him in order to keep his supporters. Bernie has given up, just like he did last time. He will be dropping out soon! MAGA/KAG
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
For his part, Biden is already looking past the Vermont senator, praising the “remarkable passion and tenacity” of Sanders and his supporters. “They have shifted the fundamental conversation in this country,” he said, adding: “I hear you, I know what’s at stake. I know what we have to do.”
