Former Vice President Joe Biden now takes up the mantle for the Democratic Party after Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ended a run fueled by left-wing enthusiasm and working class and progressives' deep hunger for a revolution. Amid the economic and political uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic,
Former Vice President Joe Biden now takes up the mantle for the Democratic Party after Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ended a run fueled by left-wing enthusiasm and working class and progressives' deep hunger for a revolution.
"You will be heard by me. As you say: Not me, Us," Biden wrote."And to your supporters I make the same commitment: I see you, I hear you, and I understand the urgency of what it is we have to get done in this country. I hope you will join us." Multiple progressive group leaders tell ABC News that if he wants their support, there's still work to be done; the Biden team knows it, and has set about signaling they're on board.
"This moment that we're in is not political. This is a public health crisis," Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to Biden's presidential campaign who is also spearheading their progressive outreach, told ABC News."And in moments like these, Americans have to come together."And if the former vice president is hoping to gain their support - progressive groups say, that somebody better be him. And the move better be a shift left, both in terms of platform and personnel.
"Of course he's got a shot but it's probably a coin flip and I think everything he does now is going to matter," national director of the Sunrise Movement Evan Weber said. The Biden campaign had also approached his group in recent weeks, Weber confirmed, to"acknowledge the work still needing to be done."
On one of his signature issues, Sanders won voters who support a government-run, single-payer health care system -- 56% of all those who voted -- by 43-22% over Biden. That follows the route Sanders himself now appears to take: Sanders has suspended his campaign, pledging to work with the presumptive nominee to push his progressive agenda.
Biden's adoption of Warren's plan marks a massive change for the former Delaware senator, as it would undo much of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 -- a measure the two have locked horns over for the better part of two decades. "We're approaching these conversations with progressive individuals and groups," she added."Not to say, where can Vice President Biden move on your issue? But more so, where are we both at? And, where do we agree?"
To them, he represents establishment politics when they're calling for a change of the guard and a party that remains stubbornly centrist and blind to the real needs of future generations. "It's about risk and probability: you've got a lot of stuff in [Biden's] history that seems extremely problematic and dangerous," Menor said, pointing to longstanding concerns by many of how Republicans might raise questions about Hunter Biden, the former vice president's son, who has faced criticism for his former ties to a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma; the Bidens have repeatedly denied wrongdoing and have not been accused of doing anything illegal; however his role...
Metzger told ABC News there is"no circumstance" under which she would vote for Biden, even with his latest overtures, which she finds difficult to trust. "So my thinking is kind of game theory - part of the calculation I think is people like me will just come along for the ride," Menor said."They can just count on me to vote for Biden in the general, so you don't really have to factor in my opinion. And I want them to know that no, you can't! You can't count on me. And in fact, you can count on me not to support him," Menor said.
The"Get Out the Vote" effort, so core to the grassroots Democratic effort, has already been hampered by the virus' spread with campaigning, rallies and town halls all unfolding in the virtual space.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Senator Sherrod Brown Knows How to Save the Soul of the Democratic PartyThe populist Ohio senator passed on running for president. But he has a few ideas on how to deal with the coronavirus, defeat Trump, and elect Joe Biden in November
Read more »
Six people shot at California house party that violated stay-at-home order6 people were shot, including a juvenile, at a large house party in California that violated the state's stay-at-home order.
Read more »
'Motherland' Star Ashley Nicole Williams on That Wild Witch Sex PartyIn 'Motherland: Fort Salem,' Ashley Nicole Williams plays Abigail Bellweather, a driven young witch from a long line of heroic witches 🔥
Read more »
Lily Allen Throws Boyfriend David Harbour an At-Home Birthday Party with Her DaughtersLily Allen baked homemade birthday cake and cupcakes to celebrate David Harbour's special day
Read more »
Alaska Party-Run Primary ResultsThe state canceled in-person voting for its party-run primary amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus and is conducting the election entirely by mail.
Read more »