Squadsters endorse ‘old white man’ Sanders

Three progressive female Democrats in the US congress are endorsing Bernie Sanders for president.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Copenhagen last week. Picture: AFP

Three progressive female Democrats in the US congress are endorsing Bernie Sanders for president, making for an intriguing alliance between a group representing youth, change and racial diversity and a 78-year-old white man.

The endorsements come after the party held its latest debate for the 12-plus pack of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to take on Donald Trump in November 2020.

Senator Sanders is running third behind former vice-president Joe Biden, a moderate, and senator Elizabeth Warren on the progressive wing of the party, as is the senator from Vermont.

These three women of colour are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 30-year-old firebrand from New York; Ilhan Omar, born in Somalia; and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who has Palestinian roots. They are three quarters of what is popularly called The Squad — an outspoken, leftist grouping that the President said earlier this year should go back to the “crime-­infested places from which they came.” Except for Ms Omar, they were all born in the US.

Ms Omar, the first black Muslim woman in congress, said on Tuesday night she supported Senator Sanders, a Jew who hails from Brooklyn, for president.

“Bernie is leading a working-class movement to defeat Donald Trump that transcends generation, ethnicity and geography,” Ms Omar, 38, said.

During the debate on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT) in Ohio, Senator Sanders sought to assure Americans he was fit enough to run for president despite having suffered a mild heart attack earlier in October.

He said he would be joined by a “special guest” at a big campaign rally on Saturday in the New York borough of Queens.

Reports say that guest is Ms Ocasio-Cortez. The electoral district she represents includes part of Queens. AOC, as she is known, calls herself a Democratic socialist like Senator Sanders, who is nearly 50 years her senior and has held a seat in congress since 1991.

CNN reported that Ms Tlaib, 43, is also expected to endorse Senator Sanders. On Tuesday, she retweeted a message from Ms Omar noting her co-operation with Senator Sanders in the House of Representatives. The endorsement plans of the fourth member of The Squad, Ayanna Pressley, are not known.

The Sanders campaign is hoping for a boost from these shows of support as he battles to catch up in the polls with Senator Warren.

When he fought Hillary Clinton for the nomination in 2016, Senator Sanders — who represents a state that is largely white and rural — was seen by some Americans as being out of touch on racial issues.

Southern states with significant black populations voted for Mrs Clinton. As he tries to woo younger and more racially diverse people this time around, Senator Sanders has already won the endorsement of rap artist Cardi B, who is from the Bronx, which includes part of Ms Ocasio-Cortez’s electoral district.

AFP