Sanders when asked about timeframe for 2020 decision: ‘I’m dealing with a f—ing global crisis’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reportedly snapped at a CNN correspondent Wednesday after being asked about his timeline for making a decision on his White House bid.

 

“I’m dealing with a f—ing global crisis,” Sanders said in response to a question from CNN’s Manu Raju while speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill, according to Raju’s tweets on the interaction.

 

“Well right now, right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die,” Sanders added. “Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?”

 

Sen. Bernie Sanders grew angry when asked about his campaign plans. During a gaggle with reporters in the Capitol, I asked Sanders about his timeframe for making a decision, and he lashed out: “I’m dealing with a fucking global crisis. You know, we’re dealing with.”

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 18, 2020

 

I noted he’s running for president, and he said: “Well right now, right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?”

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 18, 2020

 

The questions came a day after former Vice President Joe Biden expanded his delegate lead with decisive primary victories in Arizona, Florida and Illinois, putting more pressure on Sanders to drop out of the race.

Sanders’s campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, said Wednesday that the Vermont senator would assess his campaign in the coming weeks.

 

“In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people and the most vulnerable,” Shakir said in a statement.

 

Biden has 1,180 delegates to Sanders’s 885. A candidate needs 1,991 pledged delegates to secure the nomination on the first ballot at the convention in July.