I wish I could give you better news
but I think you know the truth
and that is that we are now
some 300 delegates
behind vice president Biden and the path
toward victory is virtually impossible.
So while we are winning the ideological
battle and while we are winning
the support of so many young people
and working people
throughout the country, I have concluded
that this battle for the Democratic nomination
will not be successful.
And so, today, I am announcing
the suspension of my campaign.
Please know that I do not take
this decision lightly.
In fact, it has been a very difficult
and painful decision.
Over the past few weeks, Jane and I,
in consultation with top staff
and many of our prominent supporters,
have made an honest assessment
of the prospects for victory.
If I believed we had a feasible path
to the nomination,
I would certainly continue the campaign
but it's just not there.
I know that there may be some in our
movement who disagree
with this decision, who would like us
to fight on to the last ballot cast
at the Democratic Convention.
I understand that position.
But as I see the crisis gripping
the nation, exacerbated by a president
unwilling or unable to provide any kind
of credible leadership
and the work that needs to be done
to protect people in this most desperate hour,
I cannot in good conscience continue
to mount a campaign that cannot win
and which would interfere
with the important work
required of all of us
in this difficult hour.
Today, I congratulate Joe Biden,
a very decent man,
who I will work with to move our
progressive ideas forward.
On a practical note,
let me also say this,
I will stay on the ballot
in all remaining states
and continue to gather delegates.
While vice president Biden will be the nominee,
we must continue working to assemble
as many delegates as possible
at the Democratic Convention,
where we will be able to exert significant
influence over the party platform
and other functions.
Then together, standing united,
we will go froward to defeat Donald Trump,
the most dangerous president
in modern American history.
And we will fight to elect strong progressives
at every level of government
from Congress to the school board.
As I hope all of you know, this race
has never been about me.
I ran for the presidency because I believe
that as a president, I could accelerate
and institutionalise the progressive
changes that we are all building together.
And if we keep organising and fighting,
I have no doubt but that that is exactly
what will happen.
While the path may be slower now,
we will change this nation
and, with like-minded friends around
the globe, change the entire world.
