Directions : Read the timeline of endorsements for former Vice President Joe Biden, learn more about the significance of political endorsements, watch the video (watch just the first 48 seconds on endorsements) and answer the discussion questions. STOP the video at 3 Timeline of recent endorsements:

1. April 8 : Sen. Bernie Sanders suspends his 2020 Democratic presidential campaign.
2. April 13 : Sanders endorses former Vice President Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
3. April 14 : Former President Barack Obama ended months of neutrality and endorses his vice president, Joe Biden, for the Democratic presidential nomination.
4. April 15 : Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Biden to be the Democratic nominee.

Discussion questions (choose the questions that work best for your class):

1. Essential question: How important are presidential endorsements? (If time allows, watch this PBS WGBY segment on endorsements.)
2. Why do individuals (i.e. lawmakers, celebrities, mayors, etc.) and groups (i.e. trade unions) endorse political candidates?
3. Are you swayed by a political endorsement of a particular candidate? Why or why not?
4. The Pew Research Foundation found that endorsements do not cause direct changes in people's voting preferences, according to Hartford University's Rebecca Townsend in a WGBY segment about the significance of endorsements. However, Townsend also said that endorsements by someone at the local level, or an activist they know, may affect voters' decisions.
   • If endorsements by well-known voices don't make a difference to voters, why do you think people continue to make them?
   • What is down-ballot voting? (check out this fun lesson and video on down-ballot voting here on Extra! ) Why might endorsements by local elected officials or advocates a voter is familiar with make a difference in how that person votes?
5. Do you think Sen. Sanders should have endorsed Joe Biden? Why or why not?
6. Why did President Obama wait until Joe Biden was the only candidate left in the Democratic presidential race to endorse him? What do you think was behind Obama's strategy?
7. During the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, Sen. Warren did not endorse rivals former Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sanders. Why do you think this was the case?
8. Media literacy : Check out a few different news outlets (CNN, New York Times, The Young Turks, BuzzFeed, Fox, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, etc.) as to how news outlets covered Sanders's endorsement of Biden. What similarities or differences did you find in their coverage?

Extension activities: Check out this video in which Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed in on what former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic nominee, should look for in a running mate that would appeal to Sanders supporters.

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