Under a banner called “close hold guidance,” Shakir makes it clear that Sanders is open to a third run for president.
“In the event of an open 2024 Democratic presidential primary, Sen. Sanders has not ruled out another run for president, so we advise that you answer any questions about 2024 with that in mind.”
Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate, ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, falling short on both occasions. He was considered the front-runner in 2020 after a narrow loss in the Iowa caucuses and convincing wins in the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada caucuses. But his campaign fell apart after several of the moderates in the Democratic race bowed out after Sanders lost to Biden in the South Carolina primary. The moderate candidates coalesced around Biden, and the Sanders campaign never recovered.
Sanders turned 80 in September. Should he run in 2024 and win the presidency, he would be 83 years old when inaugurated.
Shakir did not respond to a request for comment from CNN.