Sanders Receives Endorsements From Progressive Caucus Chairs

Sen. Bernie Sanders has won his second congressional endorsement from Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), one of Congress’s two Muslim lawmakers.

“Bernie is my friend and beyond friendship I agree with his values”.

“For decades, Bernie has demonstrated a willingness to push for progressive ideas that will help American families and restore balance to our economy, which has favored the millionaires and billionaires for way too long”, Ellison said in a prepared statement. “We’ve all seen the massive crowds he is attracting, and I think that is a testament to his message connecting with people – people we will need to turn out in November”. This endorsement is not insignificant.

Tuesday evening both Sanders and Clinton will appear on stage in Nevada for the Democratic presidential debate, as will Jim Webb, Lincoln Chafee, and Martin O’Malley.

Ellison’s support came just a few days after Sanders was endorsed by Rep. Ral Grijalva, D-Ariz., during a rally Friday in Tucson, Arizona, that drew an estimated 13,000 people.

Sanders has gained considerable ground on Hillary Rodham Clinton in a few states, particularly New Hampshire, which holds the first primary of the nominating season, but he still lags well behind her in many other states and nationally.

Grijalva, co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which Sanders founded in 1991, described the Vermont senator as “direct, honest, straight and truthful”.

Back in August, Ellison had praise for several of the Democratic candidates but had withheld any endorsement.

Clinton still holds a strong lead in most recent national polls, between 7 percent and 20 percent.

Ellison said he was not concerned by the lack of endorsements. At least 26 members of the Progressive Caucus were already supporting Clinton as of July, according to a tally kept by the Hill newspaper.