The presidential race has crystallized to a contest between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, after Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) ended his bid Wednesday.
In his , the Vermont senator insisted the current COVID-19 crisis underscores his argument for universal health care untethered to a person鈥檚 job.
Amy Harkins, a progressive organizer in Columbus, says she thought that might've nudged voters toward Sanders.
鈥淭hat was my hope I guess, people were going to connect the dots on health insurance being tied to employment is not sustainable when employment is so at the whim of what鈥檚 happening in the world," Harkins said.
Harkins says voting is just one way to be active politically, and she鈥檇 rather work under a Biden than a Trump administration.
"I'll be voting for Biden,鈥� she says of the general election. 鈥淚 won't be happy about it, but I will be voting for Biden. I think Bernie supporters as a whole鈥擨 look at this as kind of extinguishing the energy around the election a bit."
Harkins worries how that might change the electoral calculus in November. She says lower turnout could hurt many important races further down the ballot races.
On Tuesday, a day before Sanders dropped out, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced his support of Biden's campaign.
"As we face both a public health crisis and an economy in turmoil, we need a steady hand more than ever," Brown wrote in a statement. "Joe Biden has the experience, the tenacity, and the empathy to lead in a crisis, and the hope to bring us together, and steer us toward brighter days ahead."
The Ohio Republican Party released its own statement dismissing the Democratic Party鈥檚 candidate.
鈥淛oe Biden has become a polarizing figure in his own party, and Bernie Sanders鈥檚 supporters will be looking elsewhere when they vote for President,鈥� wrote party chair Jane Timken.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden鈥檚 campaign shared a lengthy statement praising Bernie Sanders as 鈥渁 powerful voice for a fairer and more just America.鈥� Biden committed to addressing many of the issues Sanders has championed鈥攃limate change, universal health care, income inequality, and student debt鈥攅ven if he didn鈥檛 sign on to Sanders鈥� preferred approach.
Sanders will stay on the ballot in states that have yet to cast votes in the primary, including in Ohio's . He hopes to use those delegates to influence the party during the convention.
Harkins says she hopes the Biden camp will listen but notes, 鈥淲e鈥檝e been Berned before.鈥�
In his statement, Biden tried to extend an olive branch to skeptical Sanders鈥� supporters.
鈥淚 see you, I hear you, and I understand the urgency of what it is we have to get done in this country," Biden wrote. 鈥淚 hope you will join us. You are more than welcome. You鈥檙e needed.鈥�
Absentee voting in Ohio's election continues
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