Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, emerging as the biggest threat to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential march, dismissed charges that he is a “protest candidate,” forcefully saying, “this is a campaign to win.”
In advance of announcing new support for legislation guaranteeing vacation time, medical and family leave, and sick pay, Sanders told reporters Thursday morning that his effort is catching steam and collecting enough donations to meet his goal of reaching $50 million by the time of the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary early next year.
“This is not an educational campaign, this is not a protest campaign, this is a campaign to win,” he said at a roundtable organized by the Christian Science Monitor. “We have momentum,” he added, citing a record 1,000 crowd in Keene, N.H., last weekend. “I am surprised by the size of the crowds.”
Sanders entered the race as a Democrat, though he is an “independent” lawmaker. Asked his political position, he said, “philosophically, I am a Democratic Socialist.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigning for president. Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor
In virtually all polls, Sanders trails Clinton by at least 30 points, but the gap has been narrowing slightly. He is far ahead of the other likely Clinton challenger, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, and Vice President Joe Biden.
Sanders said that he is behind Clinton in large part because his remains an unknown outside of New England and Washington. He said that name recognition drives polls at this stage in a presidential campaign and virtually everyone knows Clinton.
“Up to 70 percent ‘don’t even know who I am,” he said.
He believes that the upcoming debates will help put him in front of the public and he called for more than the six Democratic debates planned. He even suggested a joint Republican-Democratic candidate debate.
“Let’s break through some of the old rules,” he said. “That’s good for democracy.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders. Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor
He pulled his punches against Clinton and called on the media to cover big social policy issues instead of campaign moves. For example, he mocked this week’s coverage of Republican Jeb Bush shaking up his campaign. “Who cares?” he said.
On Clinton, he said, “I like Hillary Clinton.” He added that he probably likes Bush.
He said he will push issues, not personalities. On Clinton, he demanded that she reveal her position on the troubled free-trade act “right now, right now,” before the House votes on it Friday.
“I would like to see a civil, intelligent debate,” he said.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
