Bernie Sanders distanced himself from Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton during the party’s presidential forum on Friday evening in South Carolina.
“I disagree with Hillary Clinton on virtually everything,” Sanders told Rachel Maddow. “Virtually is the key word there.”
This is a different tactic than when Sanders declined to criticize Clinton’s private email server, calling it a distraction.
“Now I have many disagreements with Hillary Clinton. And one of them is, I don’t think it’s good enough to talk the talk on campaign finance reform, you have to walk the walk,” Sanders contested. “I am the only democratic candidate that does not have a super PAC. I am not asking millionaires and billionaires for large contributions.”
Early on in his campaign, Sanders said that he did not want to run any campaign attack ads or go after his fellow candidates, rather he would focus primarily on issues. But, as he has done better in the polls, people are encouraging him to tear down Clinton.
“I can’t walk now anywhere in this nation’s capitol without people begging me to beat up on Hillary Clinton, attack Hillary Clinton, tell me why she’s the worst person in the world,” Sanders said. “And I resisted and I resisted and I resisted. Because I think unlike our Republican friends, who think that politics is about attacking each other in incredibly stupid and destructive ways, I think what we are trying not do is having a sensible debate on the important issues facing the country.”
“Having said that, I would not have run for president — I would not have run if I believed that establishment politics and establishment economics would solve the very serious problems that we face,” he added, separating himself from Clinton. The democratic socialist went on to explain that he is most concerned about the rigged economy, corrupt campaign financing and the influence of the wealthy elite.
The Democratic forum took place in Rock Hill, S.C. Friday night.
