Sen. Bernard Sanders’ campaign manager said Tuesday that Mr. Sanders is not going to launch a third-party bid for the White House — a possibility that presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has been openly encouraging.
“Bernie Sanders has said he will not run as a third-party candidate. He’s going to support the Democratic nominee, and that’s what he’s going to do,” Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said on CNN’s “New Day.”
“Trump obviously would like a third-party candidate on the left so that he [could] try to divide the vote and win, but I think what you’re going to see is unity to defeat Trump,” Mr. Weaver said.
Mr. Trump re-upped his encouragement Monday by tweeting: “Bernie Sanders is being treated very badly by the Dems. The system is rigged against him. He should run as an independent! Run Bernie, run.”
Mr. Sanders trails Hillary Clinton among pledged Democratic delegates and superdelegates, but the senator from Vermont hopes to pick up two additional wins in Kentucky and Oregon on Tuesday.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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