Sanders to CNN: 'I'm Dealing With a F-ing Global Crisis'

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) snapped at a CNN reporter Wednesday after being asked about the “timeline” of when he decide to suspend his presidential bid.

“I’m dealing with a f—ing global crisis,” Sanders said, responding to a question on from CNN’s Manu Raju on Capitol Hill about his campaign. “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?”

The exchange began when one reporters asked Sanders about reports surfacing that he would be suspending his campaign. He responded that such rumors were untrue and a statement was sent out to clarify the status of his campaign. Raju interjected and asked about the “timeframe” of when he would drop out, promoting Sanders to snap.

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 Vermont senator lost three major primary states — Florida, Illinois and Arizona to former vice president Joe Biden on Tuesday, putting Sanders at an insurmountable delegate disadvantage. Currently, Biden has 1,147 delegates while Sanders has 861. A candidate needs 1,991 pledged delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

Sanders’s campaign manager Faiz Shakir said Sanders will be talking to his supporters “to assess his campaign” in the upcoming weeks.

“The next primary contest is at least three weeks away. Sen. Sanders is going to be having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign,” Shakir said in a statement. “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.”

On Wednesday, the Sanders campaign suspended all digital ads, as well as television ads, signs showing that Sanders is slowly ending his run. Some Democrats are calling for the Vermont Senator to drop out sooner than later like he did in 2016 and unite the party. In 2016, Sanders ended his bid in June despite having no chance of securing the nomination and a month before the Democratic National Convention.