Bernie Sanders: Socialist from Vermont set to announce campaign to be US President and challenge Hillary Clinton

Veteran politician from Vermont is expected to make official announcement later this month

Bernie Sanders is expected to make an official announcement later this week (Reuters)

It is not yet quite official, but it seems that at least one self-declared socialist will be contesting the US presidency.

A flurry of reports said that Bernie Sanders Vermont, the longest-serving independent member of the US Congress, will announce his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination later this week.

Reuters said that Vermont Public Radio said that the 73-year-old swill make an official announcement on Thursday.

With former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looming as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, few other candidates have stepped forward in the party. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to enter the race next month.