Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) showed no intention of leaving the 2016 race on Tuesday night as several Democratic primary races across the Northeast were deemed too close to call.
“This campaign is doing as well as it is with the extraordinary energy and enthusiasm that we are generating all across this country,” Sanders said, touting what he estimated to be a crowd of more than 6,000 at his Huntington, West Virginia rally as supporters broke into cheers of “Bernie! Bernie!”
“The reason that we are generating this enthusiasm is because we are doing something very unusual in contemporary American politics,” Sanders continued. “We are telling the truth.”
The Sanders campaign issued mixed messages earlier Tuesday about what its strategy would be following Tuesday’s results. While senior strategist Tad Devine said the campaign would “reassess” its standing depending on the outcome, Sanders’ wife, Jane, said they “assess on an every day basis” and insisted her husband had no intention of dropping out of the 2016 contest.
At the rally, Sanders touted the more than 1,200 delegates and 16 primary races he has won thus far and the momentum he’s gained how since he started the race polling at just three percent nationally. He also framed himself as better suited than Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to face off against GOP frontrunner Donald Trump in a general election contest.
“The reason that we are doing so much better against Republican candidates is that not only are we winning the overwhelming majority of Democratic votes, but we are winning Independent votes and some Republicans votes as well,” Sanders said. “And that is a point that I hope the delegates to the Democratic convention fully understand. In a general election, Democrats, Independents, Republicans have the right to vote for president.”
Clinton was projected the winner of the Maryland primary almost immediately after polls closed at 8 p.m. ET. She was also projected by several networks to be the winner of the Delaware primary as Sanders was speaking.
In a statement released after his Rhode Island win, Sanders congratulated Clinton on her victories and said he would stay in the race “until the last vote is cast.”
BREAKING: Sen. Sanders releases statement, won’t exit race until the final vote cast. (ABC)https://t.co/GxTU31qDSZ pic.twitter.com/uNpgJMkDF9
— Breaking News Feed (@pzf) April 27, 2016
This post has been updated.
Why would he get out unless Clinton has 2026 pledged delegates? He should stay in at least until then.
He should NOT, however, try to take it with SDs if he does. That way leads to disaster.
Fair enough. Tell us, Senator Sanders, when can we expect you to release in full all last six years’ worth of your tax returns? And, can you please fill us in on the details about your wife’s last employment and why she was paid to leave? Tell the truth, now.
“We are telling the truth.”
Everyone knows the truth. Bernie is good at embellishing and innuendo.
And promising unicorns. Let’s not forget those cute little unicorns.
Does Bernie know Republicans are refusing to even hold a hearing on President Obama’s budget? He should incorporate that into his stump speech.
Fuck Bernie. I knew he’d let loose with that curmudgeonly side eventually. He’s got that Uncle Bernie thing going that I knew would turn him into a grumbling old Jewish man so reminiscent of my youth. Arghhhhh. And what’s up with Aunt Janey? Sheesh. Release the taxes lady. They’re in your home file cabinet if you do them yourself. Transparency right? Show us how its done…