Bernie Sanders says he could siphon off Donald Trump’s supporters

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday morning, Sanders elaborated on his past claim that he can appeal to Trump’s voters because they are concerned about many of the same things that Sanders worries about.

He pointed to the decrease in wages for working class people, the transfer of wealth to the richest Americans, expensive college and other issues as on the forefront of his agenda that would resonate with Trump’s supporters. He added that in his last re-election effort, he gained 25 percent of the Republican vote.

“I am a vehicle of change,” he said, “prepared to stand up to the wealthy and the powerful and represent all Americans.”

Sanders also said he supports President Obama’s plans to expand background checks on purchases at gun shows.

The senator said a further reaching bipartisan solution that was defeated in the Senate is preferable, but faulted Republicans who filibustered the bill.

Sanders said he believes Obama would have the support of the American people.

“Most gun owners in this country understand that people who should not own guns should not be able to buy them,” he said.

Sanders also touched on his healthcare plans to expand Medicare to all citizens by taxing the richest Americans and his disappointment with seeing Donald Trump dragging former President Bill Clinton’s extramarital affairs into the campaign to hit former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“We’ve got more important things to worry about in this country than Bill Clinton’s sex life,” he said.