Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” self-identified socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said he is considering running as a Democrat in the 2016 presidential election.

Sanders said, “I am the longest serving independent in the history of the United States congress. That’s how I have always won in the state of Vermont. I am thinking about running for president. The issue whether you run as an independent with the necessity of setting up a 50-state infrastructure, running as a Democrat that’s something i’m looking at.”

Sanders said, “The issue is not Hillary. I’ve known Hillary Clinton for many years. I have a lot of respect for Hillary Clinton. The question is at a time when so many people have seen a decline in their standard of living, when the wealthiest people and the largest corporations are doing phenomenally well the American people want change.”

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