Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) is set to announce his campaign for president, Vermont Public Radio reported Tuesday.

According to VPR's sources, Sanders will launch his campaign on Thursday with "a short statement on that day and then hold a major campaign kickoff in Vermont in several weeks."

CBS News, NBC News, and the Associated Press confirmed VPR's report shortly after it published. Sanders' office did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider.

If Sanders enters the race, he would start out as a steep underdog against the Democratic front-runner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, the self-described socialist would be likely seek to make an impact by challenging Clinton from the left.

Earlier this month, for example, Sanders released a statement directly calling on Clinton to reject the Pacific trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In her previous role as secretary of state, Clinton praised the 12-country deal. But she has been noticeably non-committal on the matter in recent weeks as liberal Democrats rallied against it.

“My strong hope is that Secretary Clinton and all candidates, Republicans and Democrats, will make it clear that the Trans-Pacific Partnership should be rejected," Sanders said then, "and that we must develop trade policies that benefit working families, not just Wall Street and multi-national corporations."

If he announces, Sanders would become Clinton's only announced opponent for the Democratic nomination, though several other candidates are likely. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Virginia), and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (D) are all exploring potential campaigns.

Last updated with additional context 5:09 p.m.

NOW WATCH: Here's what happens when you get bitten by a black widow





More From Business Insider

