This isn’t the most shocking news. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has recorded a 2020 video in which he announces his intention to run for president again. Mr. Sanders is one of the darlings of the far left of the Democratic Party. He’s not a member of the party, but he caucuses with Senate Democrats. He may have to change his party affiliation, as the DNC adopted a new rule requiring those who run for the Democratic nomination have to be members of the party. The Vermont socialist had an impressive run in the 2016 Democratic primaries, though he was unable to overcome Hillary Clinton’s dominating drive through the southern states thanks to Black Democrats and the so-called Acela primaries in April of that year. Still, he did much better than projected and garnered solid support among young voters, a key bloc in the Obama coalition, who did not trust Hillary Clinton. So, keep a lookout for Sanders finally announcing his 2020 intentions in a soon-to-be-crowded Democratic primary (via Politico):
Bernie Sanders, inching closer to a second bid for the White House, has recorded a campaign video in which he says he is running for president in 2020, according to two people familiar with the spot.
It’s the latest sign the independent senator, the runner-up in the 2016 contest for the Democratic nomination, is nearing a presidential announcement.
Another hint that Sanders is getting closer to a launch: The Sanders team has been interviewing people for top staff positions, POLITICO reported this week. Chuck Rocha, a political consultant who advised Sanders’ 2016 campaign, is expected to join him again if a second bid materializes.
It is unclear when, or whether, the Sanders video would be released. It’s possible Sanders could launch a 2020 campaign with an exploratory committee and declare his candidacy later, a route other presidential candidates, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have taken.
We’ll see how Mr. Sanders fares. He was the only other candidate challenging Clinton in 2016. The far left only had one option. Now, they have man, and with the contest possibly devolving into who can out-liberal and out-crazy the other—it’s possible Feel the Bern won’t be as intense this time