Dana Bash Gushes to ‘Widely Admired’ Bernie Sanders Over His ‘Vigor and Intensity’ When Asking About 2028 Run

CNN’s Dana Bash gushed to Sen. Bernie Sanders over his popularity and “vigor” in a very friendly CNN interview that aired on Sunday’s latest State of the Union on the network.

Bash recorded her interview with the Independent Vermont Senator and self-described socialist on the road with him in West Virginia for his so-called “Fighting Oligarchy” political tour. The two spoke at length in the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia, where Sanders had just delivered a speech.

Bash asked the frequent former Democratic presidential primary candidate if he could “square the circle” on why West Virginians would ever overwhelmingly vote for Trump even though it’s not in their interest according to him, along with other similarly framed questions.

Eventually, Bash turned to a recent Gallup poll that had Sanders joining Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the only three “newsmakers” in the poll who had a positive popularity rating.

“What the Gallup poll found was that you are one of the most widely admired Americans. And I believe you’re only second to the pope,” Bash beamed.

Before she could get to the question, Sanders responded amid their shared laughter, saying, “You want me to declare my candidacy for pope? Is that what you’re asking?”

Bash joked that he probably isn’t eligible and Sanders agreed not to run for Pope, then Bash asked him about running for a different post.

“I watched you tonight. I have watched you for a very, very long time. You’re obviously still full of vigor and intensity for the things that you’re passionate about and have been for decades,” she gushed. “Is there another presidential run in you?”

Sanders had a response ready which was neither a confirmation or denial, but said his age — he’ll be 84 in a month — “speaks for itself.”

Bash closed out by asking whether there’s leadership on the left to fill the vacuum and “take up the Bernie Sanders mantle and run in 2028?”

“Well, that’s not the Bernie Sanders — will they stand up and fight for economic and social and racial justice? Absolutely. There are some great young people,” he said, without naming any particular individuals.

Bash also asked Sanders about his dig at former Vice President Kamala Harris during his remarks in West Virginia, in which he painted her as under the influence of billionaires at the expense of the working class.

BASH: Something that I’m sure you have seen, a Gallup poll. Did you see this Gallup poll?

SANDERS: Yes.

BASH: And what the Gallup poll found was that you are one of the most widely admired Americans. And I believe you’re only second to the Pope.

(LAUGHTER)

SANDERS: You want me to declare my candidacy for pope? Is that what you’re asking?

BASH: I don’t think — I don’t think that you’re eligible, for a lot of reasons.

SANDERS: All right. Then I won’t do that.

BASH: I watched you tonight. I have watched you for a very, very long time. You’re obviously still full of vigor and intensity for the things that you’re passionate about and have been for decades.

Is there another presidential run in you?

SANDERS: Oh, God. Let’s not worry about that. I am going to be 84 years of age next month, as a matter of fact. So I think that speaks for itself.

But, right now, what is more important, in my view — and I want to see, obviously, the most progressive candidate that we can have — is to rally the grassroots of America. A moment ago, you asked me about West Virginia and why people vote for Donald Trump.

Our job is to turn that around. Our job is to educate and organize and give people, working-class people, an agenda which understands that, in the richest country in the history of the world, we can, in fact, provide a decent standard of living for all of our people.

BASH: But, Senator, you know better than I that you could have a very hungry and energized base with an idea of what they want, but if they don’t find leadership or find the person that can articulate that, it doesn’t change.

SANDERS: Well, you’re asking a complicated issue.

I think strong grassroots movements will bring forth the appropriate leadership. I think, when people give up on the political process, when you have a handful of billionaires deciding who will run, which is the case right now…

BASH: Are there people out there who will — that you feel comfortable and confident will take up the Bernie Sanders mantle and run in 2028?

SANDERS: Well, that’s not the Bernie Sanders — will they stand up and fight for economic and social and racial justice? Absolutely. There are some great young people.

BASH: Want to name names?

SANDERS: No.

(LAUGHTER)

BASH: Thank you so much.

SANDERS: Thank you.

BASH: It’s nice to see you here.

SANDERS: OK.

Watch the clip above via CNN.