THE bid by Bernie Sanders to become the Democratic Party candidate for the US presidency received a boost today as the National Nurses United union confirmed it would be supporting him.

The 150,000-member trade union is the biggest nurses’ union in the US.

It backed Mr Sanders when he ran for the nomination against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has campaigned in marginal congressional districts since for candidates supporting his Medicare for All plans.

There had been speculation that Mr Sanders had competition on the left in the form of Elizabeth Warren, who also supports a version of Medicare for All.

But union co-president Jean Ross said it was the fact that Mr Sanders had a strong grasp of the importance of grassroots politics that swung their decision.

“We know what it takes to bring about fundamental change, and it’s massive organising and a mass movement,” she said. “Of all the candidates, Bernie is the one who understands that.”