Article snippet: Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who nearly toppled Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, launched a campaign for the 2020 presidential nomination on Tuesday, plunging into a diverse and crowded field in which other candidates are echoing his themes and attempting to claim the progressive mantle. A 77-year-old independent from Vermont, Sanders retains a large and loyal following and a formidable grass-roots fund-raising operation, thanks to the insurgent campaign he ran against Clinton in 2016, when he won 22 states, many by landslide margins. But unlike that head-to-head matchup with a front-runner firmly ensconced in the political establishment, this campaign will test whether Sanders can emerge as the progressive favorite in a wide-open contest that features prominent Democrats pushing his signature issues of Medicare for all, free college tuition, and a $15 minimum wage. Sanders told his supporters “it is time to complete that revolution” they started three years ago, now that his ideas have caught on with the American public. “Three years ago, during our 2016 campaign, when we brought forth our progressive agenda we were told that our ideas were ‘radical’ and ‘extreme,’ ” Sanders wrote in an e-mail to supporters announcing his second White House bid. “Well, three years have come and gone. And, as a result of millions of Americans standing up and fighting back, all of these policies and more are now supported by a ma... Link to the full article to read more