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Sen. Bernie Sanders' announcement that he was suspending his campaign Wednesday has cleared the way for vice president Joe Biden to claim the Democratic nomination. But in his parting remarks, Sanders made clear his ideas will live on as Democrats look to unite against President Donald Trump.
The Sanders campaign started strong as the primary voting began, placing at or near the top in the first three contests. But it seemingly lost steam after the South Carolina primary, where former Biden’s campaign was re-energized after disappointing losses in the first three contests.
The latest election, held Tuesday in Wisconsin, where Sanders won in 2016, could have been a tipping point for Sanders to suspend his campaign after weeks of telling the press he was "reassessing." Biden's delegate lead stands at more than 300, and Sanders' path forward has looked difficult for several weeks.
"I wish I could give you better news, but I think you know the truth," Sanders said in a speech Wednesday. "And that is that we are some 300 delegates behind Vice President Biden and the path toward victory is virtually impossible.
"Please know that this decision lightly. In fact that it's been a very difficult and painful decision."
More:Bernie Sanders drops out of presidential race, saying he concluded his path to victory was 'virtually impossible'
Here are some takeaways from the end of Sanders' campaign and what it means going forward:
Sanders' political revolution isn't over
Although Sanders' presidential campaign is done, his movement is far from over, the senator promised.
Sanders noted his name remains on the ballot for the remaining Democratic primaries, and he wants to continue to procure "as many delegates as possible" ahead of the Democratic National Convention to "be able to exert significant influence over the party platform and other functions."
"Then together, standing united, we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history," Sanders said, noting that Biden will be the Democratic nominee.
And Sanders' top policy, Medicare for All, has seen growing support over the past several years. According to exit polling, a majority of voters support a single-payer health care system, which is what Medicare for All is.
Biden in a statement Wednesday emphasized the importance of Sanders and his movement going forward, saying the senator and his supporters "have changed the dialogue in America." Biden said he will be reaching out to Sanders in the future.
Some of Sanders' most prominent supporters have also noted they will continue to fight for his political revolution.
Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota said in a statement after Sanders exited the race that "our movement faces a setback. But every single setback is an opportunity to push for progress."
"We need to continue to build coalitions with our neighbors and our family members. We need to continue put pressure on our elected leaders to fight for the America we deserve," she said in a statement.
"We always knew it would not happen overnight. But I know our cause is just.".
Step One: Done.:With Bernie Sanders out, Joe Biden gets an earlier-than-expected start
The Wisconsin primary could have been the last straw
Despite efforts to postpone it, Wisconsin's primary was held Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hundreds of voters stood in line for hours, many wearing masks and trying to stand six feet apart, to cast their votes in the primary. But voters won't know who won the Wisconsin primaries until Monday, in compliance with a federal court order.
Sanders won Wisconsin in 2016, besting Democrat Hillary Clinton in nearly every single county that year.
However, Biden was leading the Vermont senator in polling ahead of the primary. During an interview with CNN Tuesday evening, Biden said he thought he might have done well but is still waiting on results.
“Depending on how many showed up, I think I will have done well, but who knows? We’re going to find that out," Biden told CNN's Chris Cuomo.
Sanders has lost several states that he won in 2016, including Michigan and Washington. If Sanders saw evidence he was trailing Biden badly in Wisconsin, it could have been the final straw in his decision making.
Joe Biden moves forward as the presumptive nominee
Just a couple of hours after Sanders announced he was ending his campaign, Biden noted the major development in an email to supporters, saying the "primary is over."
In the fundraising email with the subject line "Bernie," Biden commended Sanders for his progressive moment, saying it went beyond just a campaign.
"I have talked a lot in this campaign about the Soul of America. Well – we are seeing the soul of the nation on display every day in this crisis. Courage. Bravery. Selflessness. A commitment to something bigger than ourselves. That’s who we are," Biden said in the email. "And it makes me so damn proud of America. And those are the things that make me so damn proud to be our party’s nominee."
Biden has been seen as the Democratic frontrunner for weeks after taking the lead in pledged national delegates. He has more than 1,200 delegates out of the 1,991 needed to become the Democratic nominee.
However, the former Vice President will still likely face an uphill battle trying to win over Sanders supporters, many of who are younger and more progressive.
More:Joe Biden and Donald Trump had 'really wonderful, warm' phone call about coronavirus response after tweets
Biden hasn't been able to capture the support of young voters as much as Sanders. However, voter turnout among young Americans also is down this year. Biden will need young voters to get on board and turn up at the poll.
Over the past several weeks, Biden has explicitly tried to appeal to younger voters. He held a virtual happy hour with young supporters and made a plea to Sanders supporters after a series of primary wins last month.
“Let me say, especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders: I hear you,” Biden said during a press conference in mid-March. “I know what is at stake. And I know what we have to do.”
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