Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said, when asked about opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)’s campaign, that it was “hard” to quit a race for the presidency.
CNN’s “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper suggested to Clinton in an interview aired Sunday that she understands where Sanders is coming from in his reluctance to drop out of the race after now-President Obama beat her in in the primary process in 2008.
“It’s hard, Jake. I mean you throw yourself in to these campaigns body and soul. You work 24/7,” she said. ” Your family, your supporters, everybody is so invested in trying to win, and I’m very proud of my campaign, grateful that I have such strong support but I absolutely understand that Senator Sanders has been a passionate advocate for positions that he cares deeply about. I think that’s been helpful to the democratic primary process.”
Clinton continued and noted that she has a larger lead over Sanders than Obama had over her in 2008. Clinton said she dropped out in ’08 when she realized “the goal” of putting a Democrat in the White House.
She said she would be “very aggressive” in winning over Sanders’ supporters. Sanders said that if Clinton won the nomination that she would have to win over his followers herself.
