'Bernie fought for us:' Ocasio-Cortez officially endorses Sanders with an embrace as 2020 contender declares 'I am back'

AOC made it official that her 'Squad' of progressive House Democrats backs the Vermont Senator in his White House bid.

UPDATED MAR 2, 2020

Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officially endorsed 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Saturday as she embraced him on stage while addressing a massive rally in Queens. The self-proclaimed Democrat socialist gave a moving speech in support of Sanders, and made it official that her "Squad" of progressive House Democrats backs the Vermont Senator in his White House bid.

"It wasn’t until I heard of a man by the name of Bernie Sanders that I began to question and assert and recognize my inherent value as a human being,” Ocasio-Cortez said in an emotional rally speech at Long Island City’s Queensbridge Park. "Bernie Sanders fought for us."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorses Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at a campaign rally in Queensbridge Park on October 19, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. This is Sanders' first rally since he paused his campaign for the nomination due to health problems. (Getty Images)

Sanders, who suffered a heart attack on October 1, resumed his campaigning after nearly two weeks as his campaign rally welcomed him in Queens with loud chants of "Bernie's back." The senator told thousands of his supporters at the rally that he was ready to resume "the epic struggle" for the White House.

"When I look at this huge crowd, brothers and sisters, I have no doubt that the political revolution is going to sweep this country, sweep Donald Trump out of office and bring the change that this country has long needed," the 78-year-old said. Sanders squashed the speculations surrounding his health and said he was "more ready than ever to carry on with you the epic struggle that we face today. I am more than ready to assume the office of president of the United States."

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) hugs Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as she endorses him during his speech at a campaign rally in Queensbridge Park on October 19, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. This is Sanders' first rally since he paused his campaign for the nomination due to health problems. (Getty Images)

As the energized crowd broke into raucous applause, Sanders declared: "I am back."

AOC's backing gave Sanders a much-needed adrenaline boost after his heart attack results in a serious blow to his campaign. According to RealClearPolitics, Sanders now commands 15 percent of the vote down from a high of 24 percent in March, as he and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren battle to win the Democratic Party’s left wing.

With Sanders reassuring his supporters that he is more determined than ever to run for the presidency, his campaign manager Faiz Shakir said that AOC's endorsement "sends the message that the movement is growing, that it's gaining influence, that it's gaining traction."