Will Jeff Merkley Talk Bernie Sanders Into Ending His Presidential Bid?

That's what Politico says. Merkley's office issues a carefully worded statement.

By Aaron Mesh

Is Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) trying to talk Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) out of the presidential race?

In the wake of a crushing loss in the New York primary, pundit chatter has turned to whether Sanders will suspend his campaign and concede the Democratic Party nomination to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

On Thursday, Beltway website Politico ran an item quoting an anonymous "Democratic insider" saying that Senators were trying to "nudge" Sanders out of the race. The article named two: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Merkley.

"More likely," the item says, "is a joint effort by Senators Warren and Merkley to help Bernie 'land his plane' with dignity and maximum concessions by Hillary on issues and convention programming."

Merkley is the only U.S. senator so far to endorse Sanders' presidential run.

WW asked Merkley's office if he had talked to Sanders about ending his bid.

This morning, Merkley chief of staff Michael Zamore sent WW a statement that did not take issue with Politico's characterization, but emphasized that the race will continue.

Zamore says:

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