Sanders: Hillary ‘Is the Candidate of the Democratic Establishment’

On Sunday’s “State of the Union” on CNN, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, reacted to the lack of support he has received from his congressional colleagues, including Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who attacked Sanders and said the media were giving the Vermont senator a pass.

Sanders told host Jake Tapper that he attributed it to his opponent Hillary Clinton being the “establishment” Democratic candidate.

“Well, of course I have a theory as to why that is,” Sanders said. “First of all, I think we will get some endorsements. But I think it’s very clear to say that Secretary Clinton is the candidate of most of the members of Congress, is the candidate of the Democratic establishment. As you know, I am the longest serving independent in the history of the United States Congress. I am running for the Democratic nomination to be president.”

“But, Secretary Clinton has long ties with many of the Democrats in Congress, so it should not be a surprising,” he added. “But I think what is equally interesting is the fact that all over this country, order near people, working people, elderly people, are moving in our direction because they do want a candidate to take on the establishment. So I think we will get some congressional support, as this campaign progresses. But one should not be surprised that much of the establishment is not with me at this point.”

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