Murphy: No strong feelings on Sanders staying on ballot after dropping bid

Gov. Phil Murphy declined to say whether U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders should pull his name from the ballot after dropping out of the race and endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden.

“I don’t know that I have a passion one way or the other, but it’s very clear Joe Biden is the presumptive nominee for president of the Democratic Party,” Murphy said.

Sanders dropped his presidential bid last week after months during which his early delegate lead evaporated and his path to victory narrowed to near non-existence.

He endorsed Biden Monday morning but remains on the ballot in states that have yet to hold their primaries in a bid to secure enough delegates to exert pressure on the party’s policy platform at the Democratic National Committee’s convention in August.

If Sanders wins 15%, either statewide or in a delegate district, he would win delegates from New Jersey.  Those delegates would mean Biden delegate candidates would be unsuccessful in their bids.