Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has suspended his campaign to become the Democratic candidate for this year’s US presidential elections, leaving Joe Biden as the clear favourite.
On Wednesday, Sanders told supporters via video that it had been a “very difficult and painful” decision to end the campaign, but he did not believe realistically that he could win enough votes to secure the nomination.
Sanders said: “If I believed we had a feasible path to the nomination; I would certainly continue.”
It is the second time Sanders has failed in his bid to become the Democratic candidate after losing out to Hillary Clinton four years ago.
Sanders informed his backers that his campaign had brought about a “major step forward in the never-ending struggle for economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice", after helping thrust issues such as healthcare and income inequalities into mainstream election discussion.
The left-leaning senator found favour with younger voters across the US, championing policies including access to healthcare for everyone, free public college, higher tax for the wealthy and increasing minimum wage.
Sanders said to his supporters: "Please also appreciate that not only are we winning the struggle ideologically, we are also winning it generationally”, adding that his bid for the nomination won over “a significant majority of the votes….from people not only 30 years or younger, but 50 years or younger.
"The future of this country is with our ideas”, he added.
Despite halting the campaign, Sanders will still feature as a candidate for state primaries which have not been carried out, in order for him to continue accumulating delegates and expanding his influence on the Democratic party's overall position.
Sanders went on to congratulate his rival, adding that he would work together with Biden to “move our progressive ideas forward”.
Sanders said: "Together, standing united, we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history."
He later tweeted: "Let us go forward together. The struggle continues".
Despite making significant early headway with victories in the New Hampshire and Nevada primaries, Sanders’ failure to win over African-American voters in southern states was where Biden took advantage, securing Texas and North Carolina in March and then going on to enjoy further success in Florida, Arizona and Illinois as Sanders’ momentum began to dissipate.
Following Sanders’ announcement, Biden tweeted: "I know Bernie well. He's a good man, a great leader and one of the most powerful voices for change in our country.
"You haven’t just run a political campaign; you’ve created a movement. And make no mistake about it, we believe it’s a movement that is as powerful today as it was yesterday.
“You will be heard by me. As you say: Not me, Us”, Biden added.
"To your supporters I make the same commitment: I see you, I hear you, and I understand the urgency of what it is we have to get done in this country. I hope you will join us. You are more than welcome. You're needed."
