Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) defended his support for the primary opponent of the Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.) in an interview airing Sunday on CNN's State of the Union.
Tim Canova, a lawyer, professor and adviser to Sanders, is challenging Schultz in the primary for her seat in Florida's 23rd Congressional District. Canova's policies align very closely to those of Sanders.
Sanders and his supporters have accused Schultz of favoring Hillary Clinton in the primary process, which has grown increasingly ugly over recent weeks.
Schultz scolded Sanders for not properly slamming his followers for their outrageous behavior at the Nevada party convention, and Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver suggested Schultz had a personal vendetta against his boss.
Sanders also suggested he would fire Schultz from the DNC if he were elected president.
"Your campaign and many of your supporters have argued that Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, has not been neutral in her position as chair. Your campaign manager Jeff Weaver in particular has been very critical," host Jake Tapper said. "She is being challenged right now in a primary by Tim Canova, he is a law professor who opposes the Pacific trade deal that you oppose, he supports you, he's already raised $1 million. You've been calling for a revolution. In Florida, are you with Wasserman Schultz or are you with her opponent?"
"Well, clearly I favor her opponent. His views are much closer to mine than is Wasserman Schultz's and let me also say this, in all due respect to the current chairperson, if elected president, she would not be reappointed to be chair of the DNC," Sanders said.