In the wake of tensely fought primary contests, Democratic Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders plan to hold talks in the nation’s capital Tuesday evening – in what is being billed as a meeting to heal the Party.
Considered an outsider, Senator Sanders put up a fierce fight against establishment favorite Clinton, and won over millions of young voters with his promise of economic parity and faulted the former secretary of state for what he saw as her being pro-Wall Street instead of being a Main Street voice.
The different messaging on issues including American foreign policy decisions like the Iraq war, economy and gun control issues saw the primary season extend right to last Tuesday with Sanders scoring upsetting victories on the way in several states.
Clinton, on the other, has a strong base among diverse communities, particularly African-Americans and Asians victories in California and New York during the season made sure she remained the pick of majority of superdelegates.
Gradually Clinton, who has also been facing Republican attacks on a host of challenges like private email account scandal as chief American diplomat, has moved to adopt some of Sanders’ views on the wellbeing of the common man.
The former first lady has also promised to take forward many of Obama’s policies, which remain popular among African-Americans, liberals and multicultural communities.
Last week, Sanders met with President Barack Obama after which the US leader endorsed Hillary Clinton.
In Tuesday’s meeting, both Clinton and Sanders will try to get mutual support for their agendas. Sanders will obviously want to have something that backs his proposals for economic protection of common citizens in a way that satisfies his followers, while Clinton would seek Sanders’ support for November 8 election against likely Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“I simply want to get a sense of what kind of platform she will be supporting, whether she will be vigorous in standing up for working families in the middle class, moving aggressively in climate change, healthcare for all, making public colleges and universities tuition-free,” the Vermont senator told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday.
