Bernie Sanders Suggests Kamala Harris’ Shifts to Center Are Just ‘Pragmatic’ Play to Win The Election

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told NBC News on Sunday morning that Vice President Kamala Harris is being “pragmatic” by changing her positions on issues such as fracking and Medicare for all.

The senator said that while he has not shifted his own positions on those and other issues that concern voters, Harris has an election to win and she is trying to appeal to a national voting coalition.

On Sunday’s edition of Meet the Press , host Kristen Welker noted Harris had walked back some positions she stood for during her time in the Senate and as a 2020 presidential candidate. She pressed Sanders as to why Harris had made the sudden pivot toward the middle and whether she was “abandoning” her principles by doing so.

“You have described Kamala Harris as a progressive,” Welker said. “She has previously supported Medicare for all, now she does not. She has previously supported a ban on fracking, now she does not. these senator, are ideas that you have campaigned on. Do you think she is abandoning her progressive ideals?” Sanders replied:

“No, I don’t think she’s abandoning her ideals. I think she’s trying to be pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election. My own view is slightly different. I think that in America today there are a lot of people, rural people, working-class people who no longer believe that the United States Congress and government represents their interests, who are dominated by big-money interests. So I think that there is something wrong personally when we are the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all of our people, despite spending twice as much per capita. That is why I support Medicare for all.

Welker followed up, “Do you consider Vice President Kamala Harris to be progressive, senator?”

Sander replied, “I do.”

Watch above via NBC News.