Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) smiles as then-President Barack Obama signs a bill into law.
(Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
Dec 23, 2019
If Sen. Bernie Sanders is the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, he can reportedly count on the backing of former President Barack Obama.
That's according to a source close to the 44th president, speaking to The Hill, who said that Obama is ready to "go to bat" for whoever wins the nomination.
Obama himself said as much in mid-November at a Democracy Alliance event in Washington, D.C.
"Look, we have a field that is very accomplished, very serious and passionate and smart people who have a history of public service," the former president said, "and whoever emerges from the primary process, I will work my tail off to make sure that they are the next president."
Despite those comments, Obama's future support of a Sanders-led ticket has been in doubt due to reporting that the former president considered speaking up to stop the Vermont senator if Sanders appeared able to win the nomination.
On Monday, The Hill's source made clear that Obama will step up for the eventual nominee in a piece largely framed around how Obama is warming to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as a candidate--indicated the former president will step up for the eventual nominee, even if it's Sanders.
According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll average, Sanders sits solidly in second place nationally while former vice President Joe Biden remains the frontrunner and Warren comes in third.
The former president isn't the only intraparty Sanders opponent who has signaled a willingness to support the Vermont senator should he win the nomination.
Columbia University lecturer Tom Watson, a vocal Sanders critic, has repeatedly tweeted his enthusiasm for supporting the eventual Democratic nominee--even if it's Sanders.
"I'll support the Democratic nominee as hard as I possibly can," Watson said in July.
That sentiment was echoed in early December by Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden, who said on Twitter of Sanders that she would "support him if he's the nominee."
Tanden added that the choice between Trump and Sanders was clear.
"People, Trump's re-election is an existential threat," said Tanden. "If you do not think the GOP is watching these attacks and will amplify them in the general, you're wrong."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
barack obamahillary clintonneera tandenelection 2020elizabeth warrencenter for american progressdemocratic partybernie sanders
If Sen. Bernie Sanders is the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, he can reportedly count on the backing of former President Barack Obama.
That's according to a source close to the 44th president, speaking to The Hill, who said that Obama is ready to "go to bat" for whoever wins the nomination.
Obama himself said as much in mid-November at a Democracy Alliance event in Washington, D.C.
"Look, we have a field that is very accomplished, very serious and passionate and smart people who have a history of public service," the former president said, "and whoever emerges from the primary process, I will work my tail off to make sure that they are the next president."
Despite those comments, Obama's future support of a Sanders-led ticket has been in doubt due to reporting that the former president considered speaking up to stop the Vermont senator if Sanders appeared able to win the nomination.
On Monday, The Hill's source made clear that Obama will step up for the eventual nominee in a piece largely framed around how Obama is warming to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as a candidate--indicated the former president will step up for the eventual nominee, even if it's Sanders.
According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll average, Sanders sits solidly in second place nationally while former vice President Joe Biden remains the frontrunner and Warren comes in third.
The former president isn't the only intraparty Sanders opponent who has signaled a willingness to support the Vermont senator should he win the nomination.
Columbia University lecturer Tom Watson, a vocal Sanders critic, has repeatedly tweeted his enthusiasm for supporting the eventual Democratic nominee--even if it's Sanders.
"I'll support the Democratic nominee as hard as I possibly can," Watson said in July.
That sentiment was echoed in early December by Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden, who said on Twitter of Sanders that she would "support him if he's the nominee."
Tanden added that the choice between Trump and Sanders was clear.
"People, Trump's re-election is an existential threat," said Tanden. "If you do not think the GOP is watching these attacks and will amplify them in the general, you're wrong."
If Sen. Bernie Sanders is the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, he can reportedly count on the backing of former President Barack Obama.
That's according to a source close to the 44th president, speaking to The Hill, who said that Obama is ready to "go to bat" for whoever wins the nomination.
Obama himself said as much in mid-November at a Democracy Alliance event in Washington, D.C.
"Look, we have a field that is very accomplished, very serious and passionate and smart people who have a history of public service," the former president said, "and whoever emerges from the primary process, I will work my tail off to make sure that they are the next president."
Despite those comments, Obama's future support of a Sanders-led ticket has been in doubt due to reporting that the former president considered speaking up to stop the Vermont senator if Sanders appeared able to win the nomination.
On Monday, The Hill's source made clear that Obama will step up for the eventual nominee in a piece largely framed around how Obama is warming to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as a candidate--indicated the former president will step up for the eventual nominee, even if it's Sanders.
According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll average, Sanders sits solidly in second place nationally while former vice President Joe Biden remains the frontrunner and Warren comes in third.
The former president isn't the only intraparty Sanders opponent who has signaled a willingness to support the Vermont senator should he win the nomination.
Columbia University lecturer Tom Watson, a vocal Sanders critic, has repeatedly tweeted his enthusiasm for supporting the eventual Democratic nominee--even if it's Sanders.
"I'll support the Democratic nominee as hard as I possibly can," Watson said in July.
That sentiment was echoed in early December by Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden, who said on Twitter of Sanders that she would "support him if he's the nominee."
Tanden added that the choice between Trump and Sanders was clear.
"People, Trump's re-election is an existential threat," said Tanden. "If you do not think the GOP is watching these attacks and will amplify them in the general, you're wrong."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.