Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Monday predicted that supporters of Sen. Bernard Sanders will eventually rally around to his own candidacy, saying Mr. Sanders and his followers have been treated badly by the Democratic party.
“I think a lot of the Bernie Sanders young people are going to join my campaign, and I see it all the time,” Mr. Trump said on CNN’s “New Day.” “Because nobody’s stronger on trade than me. I mean, our country is being ripped off by China and by every country on trade — I mean, horribly ripped off.”
“And I think Bernie Sanders people are going to join my campaign,” he said. “Because frankly, the Democrats have treated — they have treated them very, very badly. The Democrats have really treated Bernie Sanders and all of his followers unbelievably badly.”
“It’s a rigged system,” Mr. Trump said. “Just like the Republicans have a rigged system. I have a rigged system. I mean, I’m winning in the votes and every time you win a state, you have to go fight for all these different things. It’s a rigged system that’s run by the bosses.”
Mr. Sanders said at a press conference Sunday he’s going to do everything he can to make sure Mr. Trump doesn’t become president if the Vermont senator fails to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.
“Trump is trying in a number of ways I think to tap into some of my support,” Mr. Sanders said. “If I lose the nomination, he will not get that support. If I lose the nomination, and we’re here to do everything we can to win it, I will fight as hard as I can to make certain that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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