WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Bernie Sanders announced today his run for President for the 2020 election.
“I’m running for president,” the 77-year-old said in a released statement. “I am asking you to join me today as part of an unprecedented and historic grassroots campaign that will begin with at least 1 million people from across the country.”
Reactions were mixed, with many commentators saying his path to victory will be much tougher than in 2016, when he had Hillary Clinton on the ropes but Democratic operatives allegedly intervened to throw the race in her favor.
Sanders’ core message is to make billionaires pay. An offshoot of that is harsh criticism of President Donald Trump, who he calls “dangerous.” Sanders told Vermont Public Radio Tuesday, “I think the current occupant of the White House is an embarrassment to our country.”
Sanders is convinced he will win the election this time around after Hillary operatives clearly intervened in caucuses in the last election – some witnessed it in Mason City, for example. Men from out of town attended a caucus at Lincoln School in Mason City and shouted and demeaned supporters of Bernie Sanders as elected Democratic officials, who were in charge of the “event” stood by, almost all of them throwing their support for Clinton as they tallied up the votes in their own creative way. Hillary won and went on to challenge President Trump, winning the popular vote but losing the Electoral College vote, which is all that counts.
Sanders faces a growing field of liberal Democrats who are already in deep with their campaigns, visiting Iowa and New Hampshire. Notables include Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.