Sanders: Party leaders may ‘rethink’ after wins

WASHINGTON: Fresh from Democratic presidential primary wins over the weekend in three US states, Bernie Sanders said yesterday he had political momentum that could help him win the backing of Democratic power brokers in his race against Hillary Clinton.

Sanders easily won nominating contests in Alaska, Washington and Hawaii on Saturday. His latest remarks reflect his plan to chip away at Clinton’s commanding lead in the number of delegates needed to win the party’s nomination for the November election.

Interviewed yesterday by US broadcasters, Sanders said Democratic ‘super- delegates,’ who can change their allegiance, might face pressure to rally behind him because most polls suggest he has a better chance than Clinton of beating a Republican candidate.

“Momentum is with us. A lot of these super-delegates may rethink their position with Hillary Clinton,” Sanders, a senator from Vermont, said on CNN’S State of the Union news program.

Sanders also criticised Clinton’s reliance on wealthy donors to fund her campaign. He cited a fundraising dinner being hosted next month by actor George Clooney, where supporters will have to donate at least US$ 33,400 to attend, or US$ 353,400, nearly seven times the annual median income, if they want ‘ premium’ seating.

“It is obscene that Secretary Clinton keeps going to big money people to fund her campaign. Our events, we charge US$ 15 or US$ 50 for people to come. So, it’s not a criticism of Clooney. It’s a criticism of a corrupt finance system,” Sanders told CNN.

About 85 per cent of the votes at the July 25-28 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where a party nominee will be chosen to face the Republicans in the Nov 8 election, are being determined by state nominating contests.

The other 15 per cent is held by party power brokers who are free to vote as they like, meaning they could hold the key in a tight contest. — AFP