John Podesta said Bernie Sanders supporters nationwide understand the importance of electing Hillary Clinton in November. | Getty Podesta on Sanders supporters: They'll come around

The vocal “Bernie or bust” Democrats who made waves on the opening day of the party’s national convention are only a “small percentage” of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman said Tuesday.

In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” John Podesta said he could understand and even empathize with the fervor of Sanders supporters who saw their long-shot candidate mount a progressive challenge to Clinton by running to her left. But Podesta said Sanders supporters nationwide understand the importance of electing Clinton in November, even if the Vermont senator’s most strident fans say they won’t vote for the former secretary of state.


“There's a lot of passion in that room. These people have been fighting a very long time for him. I've worked for insurgent candidates. I know what that feels like,” Podesta said. “I think right now, I think they're kind of emotional about it. I think they thought they fought the good cause. But Hillary Clinton won the nomination fair and square. And tonight is an historic night because we will nominate the first woman to lead a major party ticket.”

Sanders' devotees made their presence known on the convention's opening night in Philadelphia, booing comedian Sarah Silverman when she told "Bernie or Bust" supporters "you're being ridiculous" and offering the Vermont senator himself a lengthy standing ovation. The commotion inside the convention hall mirrored a day of protests in Philadelphia by Sanders supporters upset by leaked emails showing former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's efforts to undermine the Vermont senator's upstart campaign.

Podesta praised Sanders’ convention speech Monday night for its full-throated endorsement of Clinton as a crucial step in unifying the party. Moreover, Podesta said, Sanders’ supporters understand what’s at stake in an election with Donald Trump on the other side of the ballot.

“I think there are people who are, as Sarah [Silverman] said, ‘Bernie or bust’ people, but I think that's a small percentage of his supporters. And I think around the country, and again, these are his most passionate people, the people who have organized for him for such a long time,” Podesta said. “I think around the country, they look at the difference between electing Donald Trump, putting his finger on the button, putting him in the oval office, and the progressive change that Hillary Clinton can bring forward, and I think they'll support Hillary.”