Frustrated Sanders swears at CNN reporter for campaign question, says 'he is dealing with 'f***ing global crisis'
His third successive Super Tuesday failure has left the presidential campaign essentially dead but Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is yet to give up. A day after losing all three primary states to his main Democratic rival Joe Biden, the 78-year-old was seen losing his cool while speaking with the media. When asked about the future of his presidential campaign by a CNN reporter on Capitol Hill, Sanders got irked and said he was dealing with a “f***ing global crisis”.
CNN’s Manu Raju revealed the incident in a tweet saying the senior senator used the F-word when asked about his campaign plans. “During a gaggle with reporters in the Capitol, I asked Sanders about his timeframe for making a decision, and he lashed out, "I'm dealing with a fucking global crisis. You know, we're dealing with," Raju said in his tweet.
Sanders, who started off well by finishing second in Iowa and then subsequently topping in New Hampshire and Nevada started losing his plot from South Carolina primary, and three back-to-back Super Tuesday debacles have virtually ended his chances of bagging the nomination. Sanders lost 18 of the 23 states that went to polling on March 3, 10 and 17 and that left him with only 861 delegates as against Biden’s 1,147. To clinch the nomination, a candidate has to have 1,991 delegates.
However, Sanders has not dropped out yet despite many speculations.
“Well right now, right now I'm trying to do my best to make sure that we don't have an economic meltdown and that people don't die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?” Sanders told Raju when the latter asked him about a timeframe.
On Wednesday, March 18, a report from Axios stated that Sanders planned to suspend his campaign but it was found to be erroneous and its editor-in-chief Nicholas Johnston apologized over it, calling it a “big error”.
Axios later posted a correction after the Sanders campaign called it "absolutely false" and said “Senator Bernie Sanders has not suspended his presidential campaign. This story corrects an earlier version that stated he had.”
Sanders to assess his campaign's future
However, it was acknowledged by Sanders’ team that he planned to assess his run after losing Florida, Illinois, and Arizona on March 17. The primary in Ohio was postponed till June because of the coronavirus scare.
“The next primary contest is at least three weeks away. Senator Sanders is going to be having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign,” Sanders’ campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in a statement. The campaign has, however, suspended its Facebook advertising.
Sanders’ wife Jane told NBC News that he was still in the race for the White House and has focused on the coronavirus legislation at the moment. Sanders has tried to use the issue of coronavirus outbreak to promote his ‘Medicare for all’ plan which was also visible in his last presidential debate with Biden.
President Donald Trump, whose administration is facing a big battle over coronavirus’ spread, did not waste the opportunity to take a dig at the Democratic Party. In a tweet, he mocked the Democrats’ internal division and said, “The DNC will have gotten their fondest wish and defeated Bernie Sanders, far ahead of schedule. Now they are doing everything possible to be nice to him in order to keep his supporters. Bernie has given up, just like he did last time. He will be dropping out soon! MAGA/KAG.”