Sanders won't back Schumer as Democratic leader

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday he won’t support Sen. Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader in the new Congress, becoming the most prominent progressive to oppose his candidacy to date.

Washington — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday he won't support New York Sen. Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader when the party takes control of the Senate, becoming the most prominent progressive to oppose his candidacy to date.Sanders made the announcement at a press conference at the Capitol, saying last week's midterm elections were "about change." Democrats will control at least 54 seats when the 120th Congress convenes in January."It was an election across the country, in red states and blue states, where people were looking around them and saying, 'What is going on in America, when I am struggling to put food on the table, pay for healthcare, pay for housing, and I'm worried not only that my life economically is going nowhere, everything being equal, my kid in the richest country in the history of the world is going to have the lowest standard of living than I do?' And while all of this is going on, the billionaire class has never ever had it so good," Sanders said.He added: "I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck.

Nobody who works harder than Chuck Schumer. But in my view, the time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck to be reelected as the Democratic leader."Sanders, an independent who