Merkley becomes first senator to back Sanders in White House bid

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in a New York Times op-ed published early Wednesday became the first senator to back Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign.

{mosads}Merkley said he’s supporting his Senate colleague over front-runner Hillary Clinton because Sanders “is boldly and fiercely addressing the biggest challenges facing our country.”

“It is time to recommit ourselves to that vision of a country that measures our nation’s success not at the boardroom table, but at kitchen tables across America,” Merkley wrote. “Bernie Sanders stands for that America, and so I stand with Bernie Sanders for president.”

The Oregon Democrat pointed to Sanders’s positions on trade deals, fossil fuels and renewable energy, campaign financing and predatory lending.

Sanders has been hitting those issues ahead of next week’s primary in New York, where Clinton is aiming to blunt Sanders’s winning streak. She maintains a large delegate lead.

Merkley said Clinton would be a “strong and capable” president, citing her “remarkable record.”

The Oregon lawmaker is among the last senators to endorse in the Democratic race.

Democratic Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Robert Menendez (N.J.) have not backed any candidate. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) has yet to endorse anyone, as well.

“This is just the right time for Oregon,” Merkley said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” while discussing the timing of his endorsement, noting mail ballots in Oregon will go out later this month.

Asked if he thought Sanders could win, Merkley responded, “I think that anything is possible in a campaign.”  

“Obviously the math is an uphill climb,” he added.

Jesse Byrnes contributed to this report, which was updated at 7:27 a.m.