Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday acknowledged that “it’s going to be a very steep road” to defeat former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary, discussing in frank terms the challenges facing his already lagging campaign amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The remarks from Sanders came during an interview with NPR that aired on Friday, during which the senator was pressed on whether he would continue his White House bid despite Biden’s virtually insurmountable delegate lead and the frozen nature of the primary race.


“We are assessing the situation we’re in,” Sanders said. “It’s changing every day because elections are being delayed. We don’t hold rallies, obviously. We don’t do door-to-door campaigning, which hundreds of thousands of volunteers had been doing. We’re doing a virtual campaign, if you like. But right now, we’re focusing on the health care and economic crisis facing the country.”

Sanders’ response tracked closely with a sober statement his campaign manager released last week after another round of crushing losses to Biden in several state primaries, heightening speculation that Sanders would imminently concede the nomination to his Democratic rival.

But Sanders has instead forged ahead with his campaign as states have postponed primary voting and staffers begun working from home in response to the coronavirus’ rapid spread. The senator has even said he would participate in a debate next month with Biden if the Democratic National Committee organizes one, although Biden argued on Wednesday that he and Sanders have “had enough” of the televised forums.

But Sanders submitted on Thursday that “the American people, especially in this unprecedented moment in American history, want to hear the ideas that will lead us away from where we are right now,” adding: “These are enormously important issues, and we need serious debates over them.”