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A growing push for Bernie Sanders to sit out 2020

Light up sign people are holding that says #feelthebern
Supporters rally after Bernie Sanders spoke in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2016. Photo: Ringo Chiu/AFP/Getty Images

"Has the fire Berned out?" the Boston Globe's Michael Levenson asks on the front page.

The state of play: "[A]s Sanders weighs another campaign, some say that even as he has moved the Democratic Party ideologically — pushing issues such as Medicare for all, free college tuition, and a $15 minimum wage into the mainstream — the party has moved past him personally."

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  • "I don’t see a lot of lasting energy for Bernie," said Markos Moulitsas, the founder and publisher of Daily Kos. "It’s different from last time when he was the alternative to an unfortunately flawed front-runner ... Right now, the mantle of 'progressive' can be carried by any number of candidates."

Another huge factor in calls for Sanders to stand down: N.Y. Times and Politico reports from women who say they faced sexual harassment and sexism in Sanders' 2016 campaign.

  • "Sanders has apologized twice, calling the mistreatment 'absolutely unacceptable.'"
  • Tomorrow, "he plans to meet with the former staffers to address their concerns."

Sanders is "accelerating his efforts to contain the damage from reports of sexism and harassment during his 2016 presidential campaign," per The Times.

  • And The Globe says "supporters ... are hosting house parties and signing petitions."

What we're hearing ... A well-known Democratic operative tells me: "I think it’s nuts Bernie is running. It will be terrible for his reputation and could do serious damage to his politics in VT but sounds like he’s pushing forward."

Go deeper: Bernie Sanders apologizes for sexual misconduct by campaign staff

2020 presidential election
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