Clyburn Warns If Sanders Is Nominee in 2020 It Could Hurt House Majority, ‘Would Be a Real Burden’ in SC

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 candidates’ chances on election day.

During an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) was asked if he thought the Democrats’ majority in the House would be at risk with Sanders as the nominee.

“A lot of people think so,” he said, adding, “I 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 ‘socialist.’”

“I think that that would be a real burden for us in these states — or Congressional districts — that we have to do well in,” he added.

Watch Clyburn’s 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 “tough to hold on to these jobs if you have to make the case for accepting a self-proclaimed democratic socialist.”

Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) also spoke out against Sanders’ democratic socialist platform, telling the Post and Courier, “South Carolinians don’t want socialism.”

Clyburn’s comments come days before the South Carolina primary, which has long been seen as former Vice President