on april 28, 2015, vermont public radio said that sanders would run for president starting on april 30. they reported that he would run for the democratic presidential nomination against the front-runner hillary clinton, who was leading in the poll numbers. his campaign manager is jeff weaver. weaver was also sanders's senate campaign manager and was his chief of staff. the official announcement came on may 26 in burlington, vermont. his campaign was supported by democratic socialists of america.