U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has suspended his campaign for president, leaving former Vice President Joe Biden as the likely Democratic Party nominee.
The news was announced by The Hill and other news outlets. Sanders announced his decision to supporters.
The stock market rose modestly on news that Sanders had exited the race.
The path for Sanders became increasingly difficult after Biden scored a stunning series of wins in the Southern States and even in some of Sanders’ strongholds.
Prior to the victories, the Biden campaign had struggled to gain traction.
The field of candidates quickly dwindled to Biden and the senator from Vermont. Many of the candidates in the once-crowded field endorsed Biden, the former U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Biden has been working out of his home near Greenville as candidates follow stay at home orders and political rallies are canceled, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus has turned the campaign upside down as businesses shut down and a majority of residents remain under restrictions of various sorts from many of the nation’s governors.
The Sanders campaign did have an impact on the overall race. While running as a Democrat, he has pursued a socialist agenda with greater government involvement.
Sanders drew large crowds in many states but lost that advantage as coronavirus first emerged in the Seattle area and more recently New York. As the crisis unfolded rallies were canceled.
President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis and an economy that is expected to see high unemployment rates are now expected to be the top issues.
