Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said during a stop in Jackson, Mississippi that the Democratic Party has been a "failure" for the past 15 years.
Sanders slammed the party for its many losses outside of President Barack Obama having won office twice. The 2016 Democratic presidential contender said many don't realize the party's failures because of "a charismatic individual named Barack Obama."
Buzzfeed reporter Ruby Cramer caught the comments made by the senator, who caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate and was Hillary Clintons primary competition for the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.
Bernie in Jackson, Miss.: "The business model, if you like, of the Democratic Party for the last 15 years or so has been a failure.. People sometimes don't see that because there was a charismatic individual named Barack Obama." (1/2)
— Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) April 5, 2018
"He was obviously an extraordinary candidate, brilliant guy. But beyond that reality," Sen. Sanders says, Democrats have lost a record no. of legislative seats.
— Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) April 5, 2018
Sanders pointed to the Democratic Party's many state legislative losses to Republicans, who hold control of state legislatures in most of the country, as well as having lost control of Congress during Obama's tenure.
The self-described democratic socialist still had plenty of praise for Obama, calling him "brilliant," but said "beyond that reality" losses have plagued Democrats.
Watch Sanders' remarks: