Democratic presidential candidate Lincoln Chafee said Hillary Clinton was "obviously" vulnerable over her private email scandal Tuesday and that the controversy was a "big deal" in the race.
CNN's Alisyn Camerota asked him whether Clinton, as the 2016 Democratic frontrunner, was now in political trouble over her use of a private server while she was secretary of state.
"Yes, obviously," Chafee said on CNN. "It's a huge issue. It just is, and you see it in the news and reflected in the polls. Voters want choices, and that's what we should have, and it's going to be six good candidates, it looks like, if the vice president gets in ... I'm proud of my record. I voted against the war. Vice President Biden did vote for it. Secretary Clinton voted for it. This is what choices should all be about. Your judgment, your character, your past record, your vision for the future."
Clinton's wide lead in the Democratic race has narrowed over the course of the campaign against the surge of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
Chafee isn't exactly a threat to Clinton's chances. In a recent poll, he received an asterisk in lieu of an actual number because his support did not reach one percent, but he said his strong character would help him.
"I'm honest," he said. "There's never been any scandals in my three decades in public service. That's what resonates with voters."
Camerota asked if that was a veiled reference to Clinton's private server troubles.
"I think it's a big deal, and it's obviously having an effect on the vice president's decision whether to run," he said.