Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Matthew Continetti said Sen. Bernie Sanders' (D., Vt.) entrance into the crowded field of Democratic candidates will help President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
During a Tuesday appearance on Fox News Channel's Special Report, Continetti argued the Democrats have largely adopted Sanders' policy orientation. Sanders himself bragged about this on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday, saying he is "very proud" of the party's lurch to the left on "Medicare for all," free college, and other issues he's championed.
Continetti said former Vice President Joe Biden's absence from the race has allowed Sanders' ideology to dominate.
"Biden's reluctance to announce has created this vacuum on what you might call the 'business friendly' side of the Democratic Party," Continetti said. "And so all the energy is now in that weather system that Bernie Sanders stirred up in 2016. He is drawing all the energy to the left."
Continetti argued Sanders' outsized influence on the party can be seen in the pressure put on Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) to support free college. Attempting to forge a less far-left path, Klobuchar said during a CNN town hall Monday night that she wishes she "was a magic genie" who could provide free college, but she has "got to tell the truth" and say it's not affordable.
Continetti said that unless more Democrats stand with Klobuchar, the party will stay beholden to Sanders' ideas.
"She needs reinforcements. Otherwise this will not be Barack Obama's party. It will not be Hillary Clinton's party. It will be Bernie Sanders' party, and that helps Donald Trump," Continetti said.
In 2016 Sanders ran on one of the most radically leftist platforms ever in the presidential primary but ultimately lost to Hillary Clinton, who in turn lost to Trump. During a Tuesday press conference, Trump also referenced Sanders' entrance into the race.
"Personally, I think he missed his time," Trump said, in reference to 2016 and apparently alluding to Sanders advanced age. The Vermont senator would be 79 on the day of his inauguration if he were to win the 2020 presidential election.