Sanders, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, must capitalize on his recent momentum by winning in NY and in Pennsylvania on April 26 to keep alive his hopes of snatching the Democratic nomination from party favorite Clinton.
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Josh Voorhees at Slate observes that Sanders’ comments about Clinton reflect the changed tone of the Democratic race. “Washington Post headline, quote ‘Clinton Questions Whether Sanders is Qualified to be President.’ I thought it was appropriate to respond”. My advice to you is the same advice I give to a couple contemplating an open relationship: “it’s time to break up”, he said to applause.
“We knew they were getting nervous, but candidly, we didn’t think they would go this negative so quickly”, he wrote. She had not said so outright but had spent the day Wednesday raising questions about his ideas, plans and preparation for the job.
The Clinton campaign, however, was quick to point out that Sanders had misquoted her. “Hillary Clinton did not say Bernie Sanders was ‘not qualified.’ But he has now-absurdly-said it about her. This is a new low”, Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon wrote on Twitter shortly after Sanders made his comments.
Clinton would need to win 63 percent of the 1,741 remaining pledged delegates up for grabs to clinch the nomination counting only pledged delegates before the convention, while Sanders would need to win 78 percent.
Clinton also attacked Sanders for his position on gun laws, linking it to the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, and her campaign calling for an apology.
The New York primary on April 19 has turned into a battle ground, where Clinton needs a commanding win in her adopted home state, which elected her twice to the Senate in 2000 and 2004.
According to the representative, the Vermont Senator was not going to let the Clinton campaign back him into a corner.
Whether or not Clinton called Sanders unqualified, she clearly ratcheted up her attacks Wednesday.
Thursday: Sanders doubles down, sticking to his statement during a news conference.
I have argued that Sanders has every right to stay in and that his many supporters in states yet to vote should have the chance to express their preference.
He did say that Clinton “has years of experience”. The Sanders campaign dubbed it as “a trade pact exploited by wealthy individuals and profitable corporations to avoid paying taxes”. “And she has been saying lately that she thinks that I am, ‘not qualified to be president, ‘ ” he told the crowd.
Meyers asked if Sanders regretted his remarks.
On PBS, Hillary Clinton said, “The economy is rigged in favor of those at the top”.
Clinton’s allies and the White House rose to her defence on Thursday. The Vermont Senator seemed to stumble with answers about how exactly he would break up the country’s largest banks or pass some of his other policy agenda items.
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“I think it is important to tell people what you’re going to do for them and how you can get it done, how you can produce results that will make a positive difference in people’s lives”, she added.
