Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders was in Las Vegas on Oct.1 for a grass-root-fundraiser he was hosting at a Las Vegas restaurant. As the Q&A portion of the event got underway, Sanders began taking questions from the audience. The event seemed to be moving in a routine fashion until Mr. Sanders asked a campaign aide for a chair. A short while later, Bernie Sanders was spotted leaving the event. The Senator became visibly uncomfortable and complained about chest pains in the car. Mr. Sanders was taken to an urgent care facility where doctors decided he should be transferred to a hospital. The 78-year-old was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction which is a medical term for heart attack.
Back in April of 2015, Bernie Sanders announced his intention to capture the Democratic party’s nomination for President of the United States. When the news first broke, he was considered a long shot. Sanders installed a unique campaign strategy as he looked to overcome the underdog status. First on the agenda was the refusal of funding from wealthy donors. His campaign focused on small individual donations. Another strategy Sanders put into play was the use of online social media platforms. Sen. Sanders utilized Facebook and Twitter as a tool to communicate with potential supporters. This method helped him gain a large grassroots organizational following online. As the campaign gain momentum grew, it became known for the youthful enthusiasm displayed through social media and public appearances made by Sanders on the campaign trail. He transitioned from having the role of underdog to winning 23 primaries and caucuses. Sen. Bernie Sanders also won approximately 43% of the pledged delegates to Hillary Clinton’s 55%.
On February 19. 2019 Sanders announced he would seek the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2020 election for President of the United States. The biggest difference between 2016 and 2020 is his status level. In the 2016 election, Mr. Sanders started off under the radar, but this time around he has a high national profile which provokes some of the political experts to categorize him as one of the front runners. However, Sen. Sander’s position as a front runner may have taken a potential hit due to the health scare which occurred on Oct.1. The heart issue has opened the door to age scrutiny. During the last debate among Democratic Presidential hopefuls on Sept. 12, Sanders had a hoarse voice. A few days later, he canceled campaign events scheduled in South Carolina.
Pandora’s box filled with birth certificates is now open. Voters are now wondering if the age factor is a cause for concern. Three Democratic candidates are 70 and over. Senator Elizabeth Warren is 70 and former Vice President Joe Biden is 76. The hospitalization of the oldest candidate, 78-year-old Bernie Sanders has moved age to the forefront. The 95-year-old former President Jimmy Carter shared his opinion on age and the presidency. “I hope there’s an age limit,” Carter said during his annual report at the Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter believes that handling foreign affairs alone will be a difficult task for a President of advanced age.
The issue of age and health has been injected into the 2020 campaign.
In an attempt to ease the age concerns, Biden, Sanders, and Warren have all pledged to release their current medical records. Bernie Sanders is out of the hospital and he’s currently at home in Vermont resting. Sen. Sander’s campaign has canceled all the upcoming events but has confirmed Mr. Sanders will participate in the next Democratic debate Oct.15 in Ohio.
