Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Senator and former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, has endorsed Joe Biden for President in the upcoming 2024 election. In a New York Times op-ed published on July 13, Sanders urged Democrats to unite behind Biden and put an end to the infighting within the party.
Despite his disagreements with Biden on certain policies and his concerns over Biden's age, gaffes, and debate performance, Sanders believes that Biden is the most effective president in modern US history and the strongest candidate against Donald Trump. Sanders cited Biden's Covid-19 response plan, economic recovery efforts, infrastructure investments, and advancements in health care and climate policy as evidence of his accomplishments.
Sanders also drew a parallel to France's recent election results, where progressive and centrist forces came together to defeat right-wing extremism. He urged Democrats to learn from this example and unite against Trump for the sake of future generations.
The call for unity comes as some Democrats have expressed doubts about Biden's ability to lead the party to victory in November. At least 19 House Democrats and one Senate Democrat have called on Biden to end his campaign due to concerns over his political stamina following a debate debacle with Trump. However, Sanders and other prominent progressives such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley have rallied around Biden.
Sanders acknowledged his disagreements with Biden on issues such as US support for Israel's war against the Palestinian people and the Affordable Care Act. However, he emphasized that a presidential election is not an entertainment contest and that it does not begin or end with a debate performance.
The Vermont Senator concluded by urging Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking and focus on issues that speak to working families' needs. He believes that Biden, with an effective campaign, will defeat Trump badly in November.