Sanders brushes off talk of 2020 bid: My focus is on midterms

Sen. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersSanders, Ocasio-Cortez to unveil legislation targeting credit card, banking industries Trump predicts Dem investigation will drive him to 2020 win Trump hits O'Rourke: 'Boy has he fallen like a rock' MORE (I-Vt.) on Sunday downplayed talk of a possible White House bid in 2020, saying he’s focused on helping Democrats in the 2018 midterms.

“Really right now what our focus is on is 2018. ... Doing everything that we can to see that the Democrats regain control of Senate and House and some governors' chairs as well,” Sanders said on CBS's “Face The Nation.” 

Politico reported last week that Sanders, 76, met with several of his top political advisers recently to discuss a 2020 campaign for president. Sanders’s wife, Jane Sanders, his former campaign manager, a pollster and fundraiser were reportedly among those in attendance.

Sanders lost the 2016 Democratic nomination to Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton2020 Democrats show off labor cred at union event Cracks appear in Trump's coalition Biggest blow to Clinton came from Midwest Obama voters who backed Trump, says progressive strategist MORE, but won several states during the primary campaign. A recent poll showed Sanders, former Vice President Joe BidenJoseph (Joe) Robinette BidenTrump predicts Dem investigation will drive him to 2020 win Trump hits O'Rourke: 'Boy has he fallen like a rock' Trump mocks Buttigieg: 'He has a great chance' MORE and media mogul Oprah Winfrey all beating President TrumpDonald John TrumpMcMaster accuses some in White House of being a 'danger to the Constitution' Trump predicts Dem investigation will drive him to 2020 win Trump hits O'Rourke: 'Boy has he fallen like a rock' MORE in a theoretical 2020 match-up.

Sanders on Sunday downplayed reports he's gearing up for another presidential campaign, saying he typically speaks with his political advisers every other week.

“I’m afraid to say it was not a big deal,” Sanders said of the Politico report.

CBS host Nancy Cordes noted that Sanders’s son, Levi Sanders, tweeted following the Politico report that the senator is “contemplating a run.”

Bernard is seriously contemplating a run in 2020 and I don't mean a jog.

— Levi Sanders (@Celentra) January 25, 2018

I forgot to mention that he is taking his vitamins and going on long walks.

— Levi Sanders (@Celentra) January 25, 2018

“I love my son very much but he is not aware of all the things we’re doing,” Sanders said.