Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Wednesday praised Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris and said he would do "everything" possible to get her elected, but also pressed for major policy changes on healthcare, tax reform, and affordable housing.
"I think she's a great campaigner. I think she's very articulate. We're not best friends though I have known for her many years. She's tough," Sanders said during a conversation with Politico's Playbook.
"I know why Donald Trump is getting nervous. I don't think he wants to debate her. I think she has the potential to be an excellent president. … I like Kamala Harris a whole lot. I think she's an incredibly smart person. I think she's incredibly tough. I think she's focused. …
"It is my view that our current healthcare system is completely broken and dysfunctional and its absurd that we spend twice as much per capita on healthcare as the people of any other nation with outcomes that are often not as good. I think the system has got to be fundamentally changed. We need Medicare for all."
Harris has altered her position on Medicare for all, but "it's not exactly a surprise," said Sanders.
But "I think I'm right and they're wrong," he said.
Sanders said he agrees with Harris' plan to raise the corporate tax rate to 28%, fix the affordable housing crisis and cancel medical debt in America.
"Wall Street is buying up more and more housing in America, companies like Blackstone and others," he told Politico. "I think they just can't buy homes and then raise rents substantially, gentrifying entire neighborhoods, I think you have to deal with that issue, and I appreciate that she is doing that."
Sanders, though, said he wants a potential Harris administration to "do what the American people want them to do," including lifting the cap on taxable income to raise Social Security benefits, expanding Medicare, and lowering prescription drug prices.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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