Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa — Bernie Sanders won’t pick a fight over the Democratic Party’s policy platform at the nominating convention in Philadelphia, his spokesman said Wednesday.
“We achieved almost everything we wanted in what will be the most progressive Democratic Party platform ever,” spokesman Michael Briggs said in an email, calling the current draft of the official party policies, “a remarkable testament to the strength of the grassroots movement energized by Bernie’s campaign.”
Sanders did push the platform in a more liberal direction. The draft platform, which will be voted on at the convention, includes a $15 federal minimum wage, steps to break up large Wall Street banks and support for an end to the death penalty. Sanders failed to add language explicitly opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, but that issue is thorny because even though Clinton has also come out against it, President Barack Obama favors the deal.
After his platform victories, Sanders endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Tuesday in New Hampshire and committed to campaigning for his former rival. He chose not to continue the platform fight, which he could have extended by submitting what are called “minority reports” and forcing votes on the convention floor.
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