Two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called out 2016 Democratic primary opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) for not supporting Democrats during a NPR interview released Tuesday.
Clinton spoke to "Morning Edition" co-host Rachel Martin about her just-released book, What Happened, a tell-all memoir reflecting on her 2016 election loss to now-President Donald Trump.
Martin referenced the beginning of Clinton's book where the former presidential candidate discussed the lessons she learned from her 2008 election, and how she had to apply them to the 2016 campaign. Martin explained how Clinton was "determined to run like an underdog and avoid any whiff of entitlement" during the 2016 campaign.
"But there is, and was, this whole wing of the Democratic Party, many of whom ended up supporting Bernie Sanders, who believe that is exactly how you ran in 2016; as a person who, yes, had paid their dues, had done the work and had prepared, and that somehow you believed it was your turn to be president," Martin said.
Clinton pushed back against the narrative espoused by Sanders' supporters, calling their criticism "so off base."
"He's not even a Democrat. That's not a slam on him. He says it himself. He didn't support Democrats. He's not supporting Democrats now," Clinton said. "I know a lot of Democrats. I've been working on behalf of Democrats to be elected, to be re-elected, for decades. And so yes, I was familiar to broad parts of the electorate, and I'm proud of that."
Clinton went on to discuss how Sanders and his supporters continued with unnecessary personal attacks during the campaign.
"But he and his followers' attacks on me kept getting more and more personal, despite him asking me not to attack him personally. And, you know, I really regret that."
Clinton then challenged Sanders to show that he's "more than just a spoiler," and to help other Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections.
Despite Clinton's pushback on Sanders being associated with the Democratic Party, a number of potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates appear to think otherwise. Four potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have signed on to co-sponsor Sanders' "Medicare for All" bill. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) became at least the fourth notable presidential contender to sign on to the bill following the recently announced support of Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), and Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.).