Sen. Bernie Sanders plans nine-day blitz for Democratic candidates on midterm ballot

Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Bernie Sanders. Photo: Bloomberg Photo By David Paul Morris Photo: Bloomberg Photo By David Paul Morris Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sen. Bernie Sanders plans nine-day blitz for Democratic candidates on midterm ballot 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., plans to launch a nine-day blitz on the campaign trail next week for Democrats on the ballot in November, including stops in several states that would be crucial to a 2020 bid for the party's presidential nomination.

An itinerary shared by a Sanders aide includes several stops in Iowa, where Sanders finished a close second to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic caucuses, as well as South Carolina and Nevada, two other states that appear early in the nominating calendar.

Sanders, who is actively weighing a 2020 presidential bid, will also make appearances in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado and California.

Since falling short in 2016, Sanders has traveled extensively around the country but mostly to promote issues he is championing. His upcoming tour, starting on Oct. 19, will be his most aggressive effort to support Democratic candidates on the ballot in November.

Sanders is on the ballot himself this year, trying to win a third term as a senator from Vermont. His 2016 presidential campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, is among those who have publicly urged him to run again for president in 2020.

This month's campaign swing will include appearances on behalf of candidates for the House and Senate, as well as governor in some states.

Iowans won't see most of the best-known presidential candidates in person until after the midterms. But some Democratic candidates have already made stops, including Sen. Cory Booker, N.J., who spoke Saturday at the Iowa Democratic Party's Fall Gala.

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The Washington Post's David Weigel contributed to this report.