A top adviser to Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the president-elect would have had a tougher race against Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE if she would have picked Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE as her running mate.

ADVERTISEMENT

"He won 22 states and 13 million voters, and that ain't nothing," said Kellyanne Conway during a joint interview with Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook on CNN.

Conway then thanked Sanders for his effect on the campaign, saying he "softened up" Clinton for the Trump campaign.

"The fact is his supporters were still out there protesting her," Conway added. "He was in -- he was in the hall being, you know, a dutiful Democratic Convention soldier, but his -- his supporters were not."

She also criticized Clinton's decision to pick Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE as her running mate.

"I assume that her choice of Tim Kaine had something to do with Virginia but maybe also with not being overshadowed," Conway said.

"I thought that he was not a particularly effective pick in the end or at the beginning."

Mook said Sanders was considered, but Kaine represented Clinton's "views and values" best.

"[Sanders] was up on that list because he deserved to be on the list. And he was considered fully along with over 30 other people," Mook said. "But at the end of the day, she felt like Tim Kaine would represent her views and values if, God forbid, he had to become president; that he had the background and preparation to do the job. But also that that partnership and that chemistry was the right one. "