Bernie Sanders said Saturday night he supports repealing a 2005 bill he voted for that has been at the center of gun control-centered attacks on Sanders by Hillary Clinton.
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Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has made a major issue of Sanders’ vote, arguing that he did the bidding of the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby. Richard Blumenthal and California Rep. Adam Schiff to repeal key parts of the 2005 law, which shielded gun manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits relating to damage caused by guns they make or sell.
The former secretary of state is fighting to regain her lead in the race, with polls show Sanders gaining traction in Iowa and New Hampshire. Brock, who once was a Clinton antagonist, is now a vocal Clinton defender and surrogate.
The timing of Sanders’ reversal comes one day before a high-stakes Democratic debate in Charleston, South Carolina, the site of a devastating church shooting past year. Clinton offered a forceful endorsement of President Barack Obama, casting herself as his natural heir.
“What we must do is bring this country together around those provisions that the vast majority of people support”, he said. “We’ll just get you the doctor’s note”. “As I have said, I do want to make sure that this legislation does not negatively impact small gun stores in rural America that serve the hunting community”, Sanders said.
Sanders also has pointed out that he supported the 2005 bill for including provisions that require child safety locks and prohibit armor piercing bullets.
“Those were important provisions that I did support”, Sanders said in a statement.
Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, called Sanders’ move a “debate-eve conversion” on Twitter.
Clinton has used Sanders’ earlier vote to undercut his liberal image.
Politico first reported Brock’s plans, and a source with knowledge of his plans confirmed his desire to call for the records in a conversation with CNN on Saturday.
The letter, Jeff Weaver said, would prove Sanders – the oldest candidate in the presidential field who also would be the oldest president to take office – is in “excellent health”.
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The Sanders campaign had raised more than $3 million since Tuesday, when Clinton ratcheted up her health care critique.
