First Jewish US president would 'break down barriers', Bernie Sanders says

“Elect the best candidates, the candidates who speak to your needs.”

If elected, Mr Sanders will become the first Jewish US President in history.

Barry Goldwater became the first person of Jewish ancestry to run for president on a major party ticket in 1964, when he won the Republican nomination. He was defeated by Democrat Lyndon B Johnson.

The office of Vice President has never been held by a Jewish American either, although Joe Lieberman ran unsuccessfully alongside Al Gore in 2000.

Mr Sanders also spoke of facing antisemitism on the campaign trail, saying: “Being Jewish, I get hit every now and then with antisemitism.

“You respond with anger, and you respond by appreciating what it is to understand that there are people in the African-American community, in the Latino community, in the gay community, women, who are discriminated against every day.”