Of course Sanders's staff is looking for other candidates to support because of course Sanders is not going to run again.
Age.
He's gone back to being an Independent in the Senate, refusing the Democratic nomination in this year's Senate election. He had promised, didn't he, in 2016, that he was going to be a Democrat from now on? He's reneged on that promise. But he's going to ask the Democrats to nominate him in 2020? Independent -> Democrat -> Independent -> Democrat. I think not.
Precisely. He seems spry but age is a huge deal at his, well, age. I think he will do more good staying in the Senate than trying to run again.