Bernie Sanders Announces That He Will Run For President Again In 2020

The divisive US Senator Bernie Sanders has announced that he will run again for president in 2020, making a second attempt to win the Democratic Party’s nomination.

The 77-year-old Vermont senator became a progressive political star in the 2016 election cycle, despite not winning the nomination. In an email sent to his supporters this morning, he said it was time to complete the “political revolution” they had started.

An outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, Mr Sanders has described him as a “pathological liar” and “racist” in the past.

On his previous run, he espoused a number of far-left policies, the main one being universal taxpayer-funded healthcare, a $15 national minimum wage, and ‘free’ college education.

His platform was particularly popular with younger voters, and his campaign raised millions of dollars in small donations. Of course, he didn’t end up getting the nomination in the end, with Hillary Clinton running against Trump in 2016.

 

Mr Sanders, who lost the 2016 Democratic primary to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said in his email: “Three years ago, when we talked about these and other ideas, we were told that they were ‘radical’ and ‘extreme’.

“Together, you and I and our 2016 campaign began the political revolution. Now, it is time to complete that revolution and implement the vision that we fought for.”

Bernie Sanders was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1990, the first independent to achieve such a feat in 40 years. He served there until he ran for and won a seat in the Senate in 2007.

As you might expect, the news of his 2020 bid is currently trending all over Twitter, and a number of political commentators have had their say on the news.

GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel expressed her disapproval at Sanders running again, denouncing Sanders’ platform as “radical”, and invoking President Trump’s resent State of the Union address by saying that America would never be a socialist country.

Bernie Sanders is a socialist whose radical agenda would cost trillions, more than double your taxes & give government control over nearly every aspect of our lives.
@realDonaldTrump is right: America will never be a socialist country.

Bernie Sanders will never be president.

— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 19, 2019

On the other side of the aisle, civil rights activist Michael Skolnik tweeted how happy he was that Sanders had decided to run again, noting that he had “Helped make progressive ideas mainstream” in his 2016 run.

Bernie Sanders has helped make progressive ideas mainstream.

When folks were saying Medicare For All or free community college or a federal $15 minimum wage or a New Green Deal were impossible, he never gave up.

Bernie’s always been a champion for the people! Glad he’s running! pic.twitter.com/ycHfcfRxiB

— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) February 19, 2019

As is always the case with populist politicians like Sanders, there has been a great deal of debate on his candidacy for 2020, as well as a great deal of speculation on the ramifications for the next electoral cycle.

However, the man himself seems very confident, having spoken on camera to confirm the news, and say that, this time, “we’re gonna win”.

Sen. Bernie Sanders announces 2020 presidential bid

"We're gonna win" pic.twitter.com/cmcZnxfk8I

— unmitigated_audacity (@homo_mentiens) February 19, 2019

Since the news came through this morning, bookmakers’ odds on Sanders becoming president in 2020 have fallen from around 50/1 to as short as 8/1. Meanwhile, Trump remains favorite to retain the White House, at odds of 2/1.

When President Donald Trump won the 2016 election, he became the oldest president to have ever taken office, pipping he late President Ronald Reagan, who was 69. Sanders is around 5 years older than Trump, and is currently 77 years old. Were he to be elected, he would smash the previous record, at the age of 79.

What do you think of this news, folks? Could you ever see Sanders getting into the White House? Would you consider voting for him when election season rolls back around? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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