A single non-conformist senator broke Democratic party ranks today (Apr. 13), endorsing Bernie Sanders for president instead of Hillary Clinton. In an op-ed for The New York Times, the junior senator from Oregon Jeff Merkley writes that Sanders is a “determined leader in taking on the concentration of campaign cash from the mega-wealthy that is corrupting the vision of opportunity embedded in our Constitution.”
To date, of the 44 Democratic senators, Clinton has 40 endorsements. Sanders now has one.
Merkley’s op-ed, in which he describes his working-class upbringing, avoids criticizing Clinton, but praises Sanders instead for opposing unfair trade deals and advocating renewable energy.
Unlike the Republican primary circus, Democrats have a choice between two candidates with lifelong track records of fighting for economic opportunity and who are committed to America’s being a force for peace and stability and who are eager to meet today’s challenges and move our country forward for all its citizens, together…But Bernie Sanders is boldly and fiercely addressing the biggest challenges facing our country.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Merkley said of Sanders’ chances of winning the nomination: “anything is possible.” He added: “obviously, the math is an uphill climb, but we’ve been surprised by what happens in campaigns time and time again.”