Looking ahead: What Sanders dropping out means for the race for the White House
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) – Sen. Bernie Sanders is ending his bid for president, but his efforts to shape the Democratic Party’s platform and policies will continue.
“We must continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible as the Democratic Convention – where we will be able to exert significant influence over the party platform,” Sanders said in a speech that concluded his campaign.
In order to continue amassing delegates, Sanders told supporters he will continue to stay on the ballot in remaining primary states.
“This is a similar strategy that we saw Sanders adopt in 2016,” Eleanor Powell, a political science professor at UW-Madison, told CBS 58 in an interview. Following the end of his campaign in 2016, Sanders used the leverage of his delegate count to spur change for how super delegates are used for the DNC.
On top of that, Joe Biden, now the presumptive nominee, has the task of unifying the party and leading a campaign during a pandemic.
“There’s just a lot of uncertainty right now about how the campaigns will unfold,” Powell said. “Trying to convey his vision for the country and what he would do while not undercutting the president during a time of crisis, it’s a very delicate line to walk.”
In the April 1 Marquette University Law School Poll, Biden leads President Trump 48 percent to 45 percent, though that is within the margin of error.
In reaction to Sanders dropping out, President Trump released a series of tweets, highlighting division within the party.
Bernie Sanders is OUT! Thank you to Elizabeth Warren. If not for her, Bernie would have won almost every state on Super Tuesday! This ended just like the Democrats & the DNC wanted, same as the Crooked Hillary fiasco. The Bernie people should come to the Republican Party, TRADE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2020
Wow, Bernie is unwilling to give up his delegates, and wants more of them! What’s that all about?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2020
Can’t see AOC plus 3 supporting Sleepy Joe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2020
Going forward, the next major campaign move for Biden is selecting his running mate. In a debate in March, Biden committed to picking a woman as his vice president. Several reports list Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin as a potential selection.