Mere hours before Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-USSR) and former Vice President Joe Biden were set to take the stages at a rally in Cleveland, Ohio, to address their supporters as results from the second Super Tuesday rolled in, their campaigns announced they were canceling the rallies due to the spread of the coronavirus.
“Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonight’s rally in Cleveland,” Sanders campaign spokesman Mike Casca said in a statement, POLITICO reported. “We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak.”
Biden’s campaign released a similar statement shortly after Bernie’s.
“In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled,” Biden campaign Communications Director Kete Bedingfield tweeted. “We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events In the coming days. Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this. Additional details on where Vice President Biden will address the press tonight are forthcoming.”
In the coming days. Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this. Additional details on where Vice President Biden will address the press tonight are forthcoming. 2/2
— Kate Bedingfield (@KBeds) March 10, 2020
The second Super Tuesday involves six states and Democrats living abroad that will award 365 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
The rally cancellations came two days after NBC News’s Chuck Todd pressured Sanders on the Centers for Disease Control guidance urging people over 60 to avoid large crowds. Todd asked Sanders if he would cancel his rallies.
“Well, that’s a decision – we just held a rally in Chicago yesterday [Saturday] as it happens and had about 15,000 people out, but I will tell you we are talking to public health officials all over this country. Obviously, what is most important to us is to protect the health of the American people,” Sanders said.
Ironically, he had just slammed Trump for not “believing in science.”
“Unlike Trump, I believe in science and would not appoint someone like Mike Pence to be a head of the effort,” he said. “We have to have confidence among state officials all over this country and people all over the world so we want scientists running the operation, not Pence. … The American people need to know there are scientists there are doctors who are running the operation, who are communicating with people all over the world because this is a global crisis. We’re not seeing that in Washington from Trump.”
Bernie finally listened to the science on this. The verdict is out, however, on when he’ll finally listen to the science on the reality of human life in the womb or the fact that men cannot become women.
Tyler O’Neil is the author of Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Follow him on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member