Two-time presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders predicted the campaign ahead will be “rough” but said he believes Vice President Kamala Harris “has a good chance to win” the presidential election.
“He’s definitely going to win the popular vote by millions, and I think he has a good chance to win a lot of battleground states,” Sanders told “This Week” co-anchor Jon Karl on Sunday. “I think people are getting sick and tired of Trump’s consistent and outrageous lies and I think no matter what people think of Kamala Harris, I want stability in the White House.”
The interview comes just days after Democrats wrapped up a raucous convention where the party highlighted “freedom” as a key message for the campaign.
Asked about comments Harris made in his acceptance speech about ensuring the nation’s military strength, Sanders cautioned against increasing spending.
“The United States now spends more than the next 10 countries combined on defense,” he said. “I agree with the vice president. We want the strongest defense in the world, but I think it’s enough. dollars a year.”
Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz greet supporters during a campaign event at Girard College on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia.
Image Andrew Harnik/Getty
Sanders said Harris should focus his message on the economy and the well-being of voters.
“We have more income and wealth inequality than we’ve ever had in the history of this country,” he said. “So I believe it’s important to end the shame because the child poverty rate is the highest in almost every major country on earth.”
Karl also asked Sanders if not giving the “Uncommitted” movement a platform at the convention was a mistake for Harris. Pro-Palestinian protesters and activists with the Uncommitted movement have repeatedly requested speaking slots during the Democratic National Convention. However, the request was rejected by party officials.
Sanders is one of the leading voices on Capitol Hill calling for changes in US policy toward Israel as the war against Hamas in Gaza approaches its 11th month. He has also been outspoken against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I think we should not give another nickel to Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government,” he said. “They always have the right to defend themselves from the brutal attacks of Hamas. They have no right, no right to wage war against all Palestinians, killing 40,000, injuring 80,000 and destroying the health care system, education. system and civil infrastructure.”
He added, “American taxpayer dollars don’t go to starving children in Gaza.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, July 24, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/AP, FILE
Karl then asked Sanders about the nation’s immigration struggles and how Harris’ views on the southern border have changed.
“When Harris ran for the Democratic nomination against you and others in 2020, he said he was in favor of decriminalizing illegal border crossings. He even suggested that he would vote to eliminate (Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” Karl said.
“We have a crisis at the border. We need to make sure fentanyl doesn’t come into this country. We need to crack down on illegal immigration,” Sanders replied. “But we need comprehensive immigration reform. And I suspect the vice president supports it.”
Republicans have attacked Harris by linking him to high levels of migrant encounters and concerns on the US-Mexico border during President Joe Biden’s term. Harris has tried to counter that by highlighting his time as prosecutor and supporting a failed bipartisan border policy reform bill. Harris previously supported decriminalizing illegal border crossings and said he believed the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “mission … is very questionable and should be reexamined.”
ABC News’ Fritz Farrow, Will McDuffie and Gabriella Abdul-Hakim contributed to this report.
