Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders’ reluctance to bow out of the presidential race is costing taxpayers a bundle.
Sanders has not conceded from the 2016 presidential race despite Hillary Clinton being named the presumptive nominee. That means, until he raises the flag of concession, the American taxpayer is on the hook to pay for the Secret Service security detail that all major candidates receive.
The Washington Post reports Sunday that it costs around $38,000 per day to keep the “Bern” steeped in protection. The Post calls it an “expensive reminder” that Sanders still hasn’t dropped out.
The newspaper says to expect the bill to go up even higher if Sanders remains a candidate into the Democratic National Convention in about five weeks.
“He’s in a kind of political purgatory right now,” said Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic strategist who has worked for neither the Clinton nor Sanders campaign, in an interview with the Post. “He has the perception of still running for president, but he’s not doing that in reality.”
