Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is escalating her criticism of rival Sen. Bernie Sanders over the issue of foreign policy, attempting to depict him as a novice on the issue.
In a Democratic primary that appears to be tightening, Clinton has sieged on her experience as someone who has a deep understanding of the nuances of foreign policy from her time as the country’s top diplomat. At the same time she is painting Sanders as a neophyte who doesn’t have a grasp on the complexities of the world.
Sanders, who has built a career focused on economic issues, is attempting to minimize his perceived weakness. He released a campaign ad promoting his views and record on foreign conflicts, including the war in Iraq and ISIS.
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Outside of his new ad, Clinton said at a campaign rally in Indianola, Iowa Thursday that Sanders is mostly trying to avoid the issue.
“Sanders doesn’t talk very much about foreign policy, but when he does, it raises concerns because sometimes it can sound like he hasn’t really thought it through,” Clinton said. “The challenges a president has to grapple with are beyond complicated, both at home and abroad. That’s why it’s the hardest job in the world. I’ve seen it up close and personal and I know what it takes.”
Clinton’s comments echo a two-and-a-half-minute video her campaign released earlier in the day featuring Jake Sullivan, her top foreign policy adviser who worked for her during her tenure at the State Department.
“When you look at all these ideas it’s pretty clear he just hasn’t thought it through,” Sullivan said after listing some of Sanders’ foreign policy positions.
Clinton has been drawing attention to a comment Sanders made in Sunday’s NBC News Democratic debate when he said, “I think what we’ve got to do is move as aggressively as we can to normalize relations with Iran.”
That shows a level of naiveté, Clinton insists. In an interview with NPR Wednesday, Clinton drew attention to his position, calling it a “fundamental misunderstanding of what it takes to do the patient diplomacy that I have experience in.”
After noting that Iran “seeks the destruction of Israel” and is “flouting international law with its ballistic missile threats,” Sullivan said in the video, “it’s not at all clear why it is Sen. Sanders is suggesting it.”
In a conference call held for reporters Thursday, Sullivan reiterated his concern, saying normalizing relations with Iran is “a bridge too far” even for supporters of diplomatic relations with Iran.
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