By
Sen. Bernie Sanders reiterated his support for President Joe Biden to remain at the top of the Democratic ticket on Saturday, writing in a New York Times op-ed that Biden is “the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump.”
Although he and Biden have had strong disagreements on issues like Israel’s war on Hamas and the relative success of the Affordable Care Act, Sanders wrote that the president has a “record of real accomplishment,” as well as a vision that stands in stark contrast to that of Trump.
The Vermont independent (who caucuses with Democrats) also railed against the media’s recent scrutiny of Biden’s every move and lamented that “too many Democrats have joined that circular firing squad.” He wrote:
Yes. I know: Mr. Biden is old, is prone to gaffes, walks stiffly and had a disastrous debate with Mr. Trump. But this I also know: A presidential election is not an entertainment contest. It does not begin or end with a 90-minute debate.
Enough! Mr. Biden may not be the ideal candidate, but he will be the candidate and should be the candidate. And with an effective campaign that speaks to the needs of working families, he will not only defeat Mr. Trump but beat him badly. It’s time for Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking.
Sanders’ position is in line with the left-leaning “squad” members in the House, most of whom have issued public statements in support of the president. More than a dozen congressional Democrats have publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race after his weak debate performance. Biden, meanwhile, has continued to insist that he will not step aside.
Sanders still maintains a reputation as a progressive champion, and his support for Biden is likely to carry some weight among voters on the left. But an 82-year-old senator asking voters to accept an 81-year-old nominee who is, as he put it, “not an ideal candidate” is not exactly a resounding vote of confidence. Sanders is himself running for re-election this year to what would be his fourth six-year term.