Hillary Clinton’s description of herself as a “moderate” during the Democratic primary caused anguish for her liberal advisers, according to leaked emails.
“She doesn’t seem to know what planet we are all living in at the moment,” wrote Neera Tanden, head of the liberal Center for American Progress, to campaign chairman John Podesta in September 2015.
Mr. Podesta said he “pushed” Mrs. Clinton for an explanation.
“She claims she didn’t remember saying it,” Mr. Podesta wrote. “Not sure I believe her. We were speculating, that it may be a Don Baer intervention.”
Mr. Baer is a longtime Clinton ally who served as a senior adviser to then-President Bill Clinton.
While she was campaigning against liberal rival Sen. Bernie Sanders in Ohio, Mrs. Clinton told supporters, “I get accused of being kind of moderate and center. I plead guilty.”
Ms. Tanden told Mr. Podesta, “It makes my life more difficult after telling every reporter I know she’s actually progressive.”
WikiLeaks is publishing thousands of Mr. Podesta’s private emails.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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