As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) appears to be the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, more Democrats are growing worried that he will hurt other Democratic candidatesâ chances on election day.
During an interview on ABC Newsâ âThis Week,â House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) was asked if he thought the Democratsâ majority in the House would be at risk with Sanders as the nominee.
âA lot of people think so,â he said, adding, âI do believe it will be an extra burden for us to have to carry. This is South Carolina, and South Carolinians are pretty leery about that title âsocialist.ââ
âI think that that would be a real burden for us in these states â or Congressional districts â that we have to do well in,â he added.
Watch Clyburnâs interview below:
Clyburn noted that in 2018, the districts that Democrats flipped were areas where voters hold more moderate views and said it would be âtough to hold on to these jobs if you have to make the case for accepting a self-proclaimed democratic socialist.â
Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) also spoke out against Sandersâ democratic socialist platform, telling the Post and Courier, âSouth Carolinians donât want socialism.â
Clyburnâs comments come days before the South Carolina primary, which has long been seen as former Vice President Joe Bidenâs firewall to blunt Sandersâ momentum. Clyburn is also expected to endorse Biden before his home stateâs primary, which takes place on February 29.
Biden has maintained a lead in South Carolina, even after he saw disappointing performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. However, in recent days his once double-digit lead has shrunk to a single-digit lead with Sanders in second place.
Itâs unclear if warnings from Clyburn and other Democrats about Sanders will make a difference to voters. In Nevada, The Culinary Union warned its members that Sandersâ policies would cost them their cherished healthcare plans.
However, results from Nevada showed Sanders racked up a decent share of votes from members of the union despite warnings from its leadership.
Even if Sanders doesnât win South Carolina, some Democratic strategists appear worried about the possibility of him being on his way to winning the nomination.
