Bill Clinton set a high bar for his wife, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, on Monday, saying she needs a "big win" in the New York Democratic primary against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
Hillary Clinton, whose team expected her to wrap up the nomination by the end of March, has faced a surprising challenge from Sanders, whose far-left populism has won huge crowds and enthusiasm in the Democratic Party.
"So, I am asking you for your vote on April 19. If she's winning the nomination, I want you to vote for her in November of course, but we gotta win," Bill Clinton said. "I was raised to believe, in every competition I was ever in, the worst mistake you could ever make is to look past the fights you're in to the next one. We have to win New York on April 19 with a big victory."
Sanders has won eight of the last nine Democratic contests. Nevertheless, Clinton is still leading in both pledged delegates and superdelegates.
The former president mentioned Hillary's time as a senator representing New York, as well as her overwhelming support from Democrats in Congress.
"The people who know best why she should win, are the people who worked with her and saw her work as a United States Senator," Clinton said. "That's why I'm really grateful that all the House members in our delegation have supported her. That the people who have achieved the most themselves in Congress for the American people are supporting her. They want a doer."
Sanders has ties to New York as well. The senator, famous for his thick Brooklyn accent, was raised in New York City.
Bill Clinton made headlines last week when he got into a heated exchange with Black Lives Matter protesters at an event in Philadelphia, defending the crime bill he passed as president, which some activists said led to unjust incarceration of African Americans. Clinton later said he regretted the showdown.