Mr Bernie Sanders has dropped out of U.S 2020 Presidential race, as he ended his campaign to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.
The shocking but expected announcement from the 78-year-old Mr Bernie Sanders, leaves a clear run for rival Joe Biden to take on Donald Trump in November.
The Vermont senator’s hopes at the candidacy were dashed when South Carolina and several other battleground primaries were won by Mr Biden.
Analysts put Mr Sanders’ decline down to the coronavirus crisis forcing the cancellation of political rallies, which is where he thrived
Mr Bernie Sanders told supporters in a video call on Wednesday: “I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who knocked on doors, millions of them, in the freezing winters of Iowa and New Hampshire, and in the heat, and in South Carolina, and in states throughout the country.
“I want to thank the two million Americans who have contributed financially to our campaign, and showed the world that we can take on a corrupt campaign and finance system, and run a major presidential campaign without being dependent on the wealthy and the powerful.”
Mr Sanders, a democratic socialist whose key proposal was to reform US healthcare, rose from relative obscurity to build an enthusiastic backing of young voters.
He reached frontrunner status in February, receiving the second most delegates in the Iowa caucuses before finishing first in New Hampshire and Nevada.
But he lost ground after former Vice President Mr Biden gained the endorsement of ‘kingmaker’ James Clyburn, boosting his support among black voters and sealing South Carolina.
The veteran Democrat resisted calls to stand down early after a disappointing Super Tuesday and used the backdrop of the escalating Covid-19 infection rate in the US to thrust his progressive agenda.
But his campaign was thwarted as an increasing number of Democrats backed the moderate candidate Mr Biden, judging Mr Sanders too radical to defeat Mr Trump.
His move to withdraw has been seen by many as a repeat of the 2016 presidential race when he lost the candidacy to moderate Hillary Clinton.