Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who recently announced that he is running for president, proposed that Democratic candidates debate the Republican candidates before the general election.
“In a sense, the Republicans get away with murder. They have an absolutely reactionary agenda,” Sanders told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about his proposal.
Sanders said that if Americans saw Democrats and Republicans debate the issues earlier in the election cycle, they would better understand Republicans’ views.
“If we can confront them and debate issues, rather than allow the media to get into political gossip and polling and fundraising, but talk about the issues — I think their agenda does not reflect more than 15 or 20 percent of the American people,” he said. “The more we have that clash of ideas, I think we win, I think people become more engaged in the political process.”
Since announcing his presidential bid, Sanders’ popularity has increased among likely Iowa caucus attendees, according to a poll released on Monday.
Watch Sanders’ interview with Rachel Maddow via MSNBC:
H/t Mediaite
