Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib set to endorse Bernie Sanders for president, say reports
A heart attack at a campaign event in Las Vegas earlier in October might have put presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders’ age under scrutiny but he is still as popular among the youth. Two fresh Congresswomen -- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar -- have decided to endorse the 78-year-old Vermont senator for president in next year’s election. Rashida Tlaib, a third member of the ‘Squad’ is also set to endorse Sanders, it was reported.
According to the Washington Post, Ocasio-Cortez or “AOC” has plans to endorse Sanders for president at a rally in Queens, New York, on Saturday, October 19. It is not that AOC, the Democratic representative from New York, is a stranger to Sanders. During the latter’s 2016 campaign, she was a volunteer organizer and was also praised by the veteran for her win in the midterm elections last year. They also came together this year to cap credit card rates.
There is little surprise in the fact that AOC will endorse Sanders because she, like the senator, is a self-described Democratic socialist and has stands similar to him on policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
A 'special guest' at Sanders' Saturday rally
Sanders gave a hint about the 30-year-old’s inclination towards endorsing him at the fourth Democratic debate in Ohio on Tuesday, October 15. There, he said that he will have a “special guest” at his “Bernie’s Back” rally and the campaign later acknowledged who the guest is.
The news of AOC endorsing Sanders will be a disappointing one for the campaign of his rival Elizabeth Warren since Ocasio-Cortez had teamed up with the Massachusetts senator on issues like environmental clean-up.
'Bernie best candidate to take on Trump'
Besides AOC, another member of the ‘Squad’ -- Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar has also backed Sanders. She made the announcement on Tuesday evening. “Bernie is leading a working-class movement to defeat Donald Trump that transcends generation, ethnicity and geography," Omar was quoted as saying in a statement that was posted on Twitter by the Sanders campaign. "I believe Bernie Sanders is the best candidate to take on Donald Trump in 2020.” she added.
According to a report by CNN, Michigan Representative Tlaib is also set to back Sanders for president although it was not confirmed whether she and Omar will attend the Saturday rally like AOC. Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley is the fourth member of the Squad.
The fresh progressive Congresswomen’s endorsement will give Sanders’ campaign a much-needed boost after it looked a little faded following his heart procedure in Las Vegas recently. Sanders’ ailment brought the focus on the age and health of presidential candidates though when asked about the same at the Ohio debate, Sanders said he would run a vigorous campaign all across the country.
Saturday’s rally will be Sanders' first since he took a break from the presidential campaign because of the heart attack.