Sanders Blasts Kamala Harris 2024 Campaign Over Billionaire Influence

Senator Bernie Sanders used an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on 10 August to fault former Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential bid, arguing that the campaign was “heavily influenced by very wealthy people” and therefore failed to connect with working-class voters. He told host Dana Bash that billionaire donors discouraged Harris from speaking forcefully about bread-and-butter economic issues, which he sees as critical to Democratic victories. Sanders cited data that 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and criticised the United States for lacking universal health coverage and affordable higher education. He contended that any successful Democratic platform must address income inequality, healthcare costs and wages, problems he blamed on what he called the power of “oligarchs” over U.S. politics. Pressed on whether he might mount another White House run in 2028, the Vermont independent—who turns 84 next month—said it was premature to discuss the matter, emphasising instead the need to “rally the grassroots” behind the most progressive candidate the party can field.