WASHINGTON — US Senator Bernie Sanders ended his presidential campaign on Wednesday, clearing the way for former Vice President Joe Biden to become the Democratic Party nominee.

Sanders, 78, told his campaign staff about his decision on a conference call on Wednesday before addressing his supporters online.

“I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour,” Sanders told his supporters in a live stream.

"We have transformed American consciousness as to what kind of nation we can become and have taken this country a major step forward in the never-ending struggle for economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice.

“Please also appreciate that not only are we winning the struggle ideologically, we are also winning it generationally, the leftist senator said.

Sanders’ 2020 bid started off strong. He narrowly missed first place in Iowa before picking up wins in New Hampshire and Nevada.

But the lack of among the African Americans failed to give his campaign a boost he needed to beat Biden in key primaries.

On Wednesday, Sanders congratulated Biden, and said that he will work with him to "move our progressive ideas forward".

Sanders added that he will still be on ballots in states that have yet to vote in the Democratic primary elections, in order to gather delegates and influence the party's general election platform at the convention.

"Together, standing united, we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history." — Agencies