Bill Clinton says Bernie Sanders has a ‘right to stay in’ the Democratic primary

Hunter Walker
·White House Correspondent

Some critics argue that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., should bow out of the Democratic presidential primary as his chance of defeating Hillary Clinton becomes increasingly slim. However, Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, does not think Sanders needs to give up.

Yahoo News asked Clinton if he wants Sanders to leave the race at a campaign event in New York City on Thursday afternoon. He noted that Sanders has generated substantial support.

“We have an election that goes all the way through June, and she believes and I believe that everybody has a right to their own timetable,” Bill Clinton said. “He’s got a lot of supporters. He’s got a perfect right to stay in if that’s what he wants to do and run his race. It’s his decision.”

Despite a string of recent victories, Sanders is still behind Clinton in the pledged delegate count. Sanders would need to win a majority of the vote in every remaining primary in order to get ahead of her.

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Former President Bill Clinton speaks at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., on March 21. (Photo: Natalie Behring/The Columbian via AP)

Sanders and his campaign have argued he is more electable than Clinton in a general election matchup against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Some Sanders supporters have pledged that for them it’s “Bernie or Bust” and said they would not support Clinton if she wins the primary.

At a campaign rally in Westchester County, N.Y., on Thursday, Clinton was interrupted by Sanders supporters who shouted, “If she wins, we lose!” She responded by touting the volume of her support in the primary and arguing that her proposals are more realistic than his.

“The Bernie people came to say that. We’re very sorry you’re leaving,” Clinton said as the protesters were escorted out. “As they’re leaving, I want to say I have earned 9 million votes in this election already. I have 1 million more votes than Donald Trump and I have 2.5 million more votes than Bernie Sanders. … What I regret is they don’t want to listen to anyone else. … They don’t want to hear the contrasts between my experience, my plans, my vision, what I know I can get done and what my opponent is promising.”