In an interview with NBC Nightly News’ Lester Holt, Sanders said if he comes in second place in Iowa, his campaign will move full steam ahead to the next three primaries on the calendar – New Hampshire, Nevada and SC.
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But Obama soon moved on to praising Clinton, who he deemed ready to begin governing as soon as she assumed the job. He portrayed Sanders as “the bright, shiny object that people haven’t seen before”. As his Secretary of State Obama has worked closely with Clinton, spent hours on Air Force One, shared personal moments and some policy clashes.
White House officials say the Obama interview was a reflection of his close, working relationship with Clinton and his focus on wanting Democrats to win, not his discomfort with Sanders.
Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Peter Brown contended that Clinton’s struggle to gain traction in Iowa is reminiscent of her 2008 presidential run against Barack Obama.
The White House said later that Sanders would meet informally with Obama in the Oval Office on Wednesday and “there will be no formal agenda”.
Costello asked Sarandon about the criticism Sanders has gotten for giving “handouts”, but Sarandon asked Costello, “Do they say that about all of Europe?”
Speaking at a Thursday evening rally in Burlington, Iowa, Sanders cast himself as a legislator steeped in principle, pointing to his opposition to the Iraq war, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, the Keystone pipeline and the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, who later said he regretted the decision. The senator hasn’t been a regular at the White House. Numerous televised events have been held on weekend evenings, giving it a limited audience.
Obama allies have dismissed suggestions that Sanders’ campaign is following a path Obama charted eight years ago.
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Sanders on Monday night also admitted he would seek massive tax increases – “one of the biggest tax hikes in history”, as moderator Chris Cuomo put it – to expand Medicare to all. He also opposes the president in advocating transforming Obama’s health care law into what he describes as a universal “Medicare for all” system. But Sanders is far more popular among liberals and younger voters who think he speaks to their aspirations and would bring about fundamental change to government and politics and address income inequality between middle class Americans and the “billionaire class”.
