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Williamson, 70, rose to prominence in the self-help world with several best-selling books and as a spiritual guru to Oprah Winfrey. She worked with several health-related organizations and founded Project Angel Food, which began as a program to deliver meals to homebound people with AIDS and later expanded to people battling any critical illness.

She said an epiphany led her to run for president in 2020. Williamson built her last campaign on an untraditional message of love and peace, telling voters she would \"harness love\" to defeat former President Donald Trump -- who she said was a symptom of America's deeper problems and broken political system.

Her signature 2020 proposals included reparations for slavery and the creation of a Department of Peace, and she supported progressive policies like universal health care and free college. She faced criticism when she called mandatory vaccinations \"Orwellian\" and for her past comments about depression.

Williamson ultimately failed to gain much momentum amid the field of two-dozen Democratic candidates and dropped out of the race before the nominating contests. She later officially endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders.

\"PHOTO:
ABC News
PHOTO: Marianne Williamson launches her 2024 campaign at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2023.
>

\"I'm so glad that President Trump did not win the last election,\" Williamson said Saturday. \"That means we didn't go over the cliff, but I'll tell you something, we're still six inches away from the cliff.\"

During her campaign launch, she positioned herself to the left of Biden as she railed against an \"atomizer spray of economic injustice\" she said is behind much of the problems plaguing society.

\"Policy after policy after policy made sure that those who already have will probably get more and those who do not will have a hard time even surviving,\" she said.

In response, she advocated for universal health care, free higher education, free child care and a guaranteed living wage.

\"They have had their day,\" Williamson said of big pharmaceutical, agricultural and oil companies. \"Corporate tyranny will end now.\"

Williamson made no mention of Biden in her speech, though she repeatedly criticized the governing system.

\"People who have the solutions do not have the power,\" Williamson said. \"Once again, let the people get in there, we'll handle it from there.\"

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