"One of the most valuable lessons of Sanders’ campaign was that it proved to the Democratic Party that a presidential candidate doesn’t just win support by moving to the left, but can actually capture the imagination of increasingly disillusioned voters left behind by both major parties," observes progressive commentator Sonali Kolhatkar.

Part of fighting for the middle class means rejecting corporate donations and corporate influence, the Vermont senator argued.

"If Mr. Trump has the guts to stand up to [...] corporations," Sanders challenged the president-elect earlier on Thursday, "he will have an ally with me."