Clinton surrogate Ed Rendell advised Bernie Sanders to stop attacking Hillary Clinton’s character and political past and told him to start a PAC, despite the Vermont senator’s vehement objections to big money in politics.
"Don't start attacking her character. Don't start attacking the vote in Iraq. That was a long time ago," Rendell said.
He then told Sanders to "be strong" and "be vigorous" and to "go all the way to the convention."
Despite encouraging Sanders to press on in the primary, Rendell advised the Vermont senator to start a PAC after the election.
"He should take his PAC and transform it into–his election PAC–transform it into an issues PAC and support progressive candidates going forward. Not just in November, but for years to come, because he can raise money and be a dominant force in Democratic politics and maybe in politics in America," Rendell said.
Sanders has expressed contempt for super PACs and the influence of "billions and special interests" in politics and has on numerous occasions boasted that he is the only candidate without a super PAC.
"I am very proud to be the only candidate up here who does not have a super PAC, who’s not raising huge sums of money from Wall Street and special interests," Sanders said in a February Democratic debate.
He has also criticized opponent Hillary Clinton for refusing to release the transcripts to her Wall Street speeches and for hosting pricy star-studded fundraisers.
"It is obscene that Secretary Clinton keeps going to big-money people to fund her campaign," Sanders said in March after Clinton hosted a fundraiser that featured George Clooney and a $33,400 ticket. In contrast, Sanders said that his events cost "$15 to $50."