As Sen. Bernie Sanders continues to rise in the polls among Democrats, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) is warning that a socialist candidate for president would cause “down-ballot carnage” for the party.
Clyburn was asked by CNN, “What concerns are you hearing from the democratic caucus in the House about having potentially Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Socialist at the top of the ticket?”
The Congressman responded, “I talked to the faith community [in Texas], and they were very, very concerned about whether or not you’d have somebody on the ticket that would cause down-ballot carnage. That’s our biggest problem, of my members. We want to see somebody on the ticket that will allow us to expand our numbers, not having to run some kind of a rearguard campaign in order to keep from being tarnished with a label.”
Clyburn announced Wednesday he was supporting former Vice President Joe Biden for president. The South Carolina primary is on Tuesday and the former Vice President has long considered the state to be his “firewall.”
The Majority Whip says he “feels good” about Biden’s chances in the state.
“I would like to see double digits, and not just 10 or 11 [percentage point lead]. I would like to see 15 or 16. That’s what I want to see,” Clyburn said. “I have no idea, but I feel good about our chances of getting there.”
South Carolina’s @WhipClyburn, who endorsed Joe Biden, says he wants the former VP to win in the state’s primary by “double digits, and not just 10 or 11. I would like to see 15 or 16.”https://t.co/0cncwUmAXn pic.twitter.com/CIwbFB8eYy
— New Day (@NewDay) February 28, 2020
