Justin Norris | Staff Writer
Photo Credit: Flickr User Bruce Detorres
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is having to adjust his efforts on the 2020 campaign trail after a recently suffered heart attack.
According to CNN, Sanders admitted that he will change “the nature of the campaign a bit [to] make sure I have the strength to do what needs to be done.”
Sanders, 78, suffered the heart attack three days before his campaign released the information. He defended the decision to delay the disclosure, telling NBC that he “think[s] that’s a media thing.” He added that the campaign was trying “to understand what in fact is going on.” Sanders’ admission to scale back his campaign efforts comes as a deviation from his customarily relentless pace on the campaign trail.
According to CNN, while recovering in Vermont, Sanders told reporters outside his home “we were doing [in] some cases five or six meetings a day, three or four rallies and town meetings and meeting with groups of people. I don’t think I’m going to do that. But I certainly intend to be actively campaigning.”
Americans are curious to see how Sanders will handle his reduced campaign trail schedule after running notably busy schedules in the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.
can be a form of age discrimination. Therefore, it does not change my opin- ion about Mr. Sanders nor how I may vote.” However, Hampton University student John Harvey IV, who is a business administration major from Washington, D.C., is wary of what Sanders’ heart attack means for the future of his campaign.
Vashon Gordon, a Hampton University political science major from St. Paul, Minnesota, thinks Sanders can rebound in the polls and still secure the 2020 Democratic nomination.
“I do believe it’ll put him slightly behind in the race, but not by much since this is his second time running and Mr. Sanders is not a rook- ie,” Gordon said. “I know he released statements saying he was going to be scaling back on some of his campaign- ing, but he is still going to try his best and put in the effort to do what he needs to do.
“Hopefully, others will take his body of work into consideration, instead of his health or age, which can be a form of age discrimination. Therefore, it does not change my opin- ion about Mr. Sanders nor how I may vote.”
However, Hampton University student John Harvey IV, who is a business administration major from Washington, D.C., is wary of what Sanders’ heart attack means for the future of his campaign.
“As a member of the pre-law program at HU, and because of today’s political climate, I have an increased interest in what goes on in American politics,” Harvey said. “Bernie Sanders
was a candidate I was considering. However, even if he wins the Democratic nomination, President Trump will use this heart attack as ammunition to say [Sanders] is physically unfit for office. At the age of 78, that is a valid claim to make. With that being said, I cannot afford to take my vote in choosing the Democratic nominee lightly. At the end of the day, I may not have the luxury to vote for who I believe is the best candidate. I am going to vote for whoever I think has the best chance of defeating President Donald Trump in an election.”
It remains to be seen whether Sanders can rebound from any hit he takes in the polls. The outcome may determine who represents the Democratic party in the 2020 presidential election.
The Hampton Script 