Former Rep. John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.) fired back at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezWells Fargo CEO issues apology after saying there was a 'limited pool of Black talent' Brand responds to Trump claim protesters throw tuna cans at police: 'Eat em, don't throw em' CNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context MORE (D-N.Y.), saying her comments could lead to “a second term for Donald Trump” while challenging her to a debate after the freshman congresswoman called for the 2020 presidential hopeful to “please sashay away” from the Democratic primary.

Ocasio-Cortez's criticism of Delaney followed his remarks Sunday at the California Democratic Convention in which he said "Medicare for All" is “actually not good policy nor is it good politics.”

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The fiery freshman New York lawmaker was not the only Democrat critical of Delaney's take — he was loudly booed by the California crowd.

Delaney's press secretary, Michael Starr Hopkins, released a statement on Monday saying that Ocasio-Cortez's comments only help President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE move toward reelection in 2020.

“The only person Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez helped with her tweet about Congressman Delaney was Donald Trump,” Hopkins's statement reads. “If Democrats are serious about beating the President at the ballot box, we need less political grandstanding and more truth-telling from the Bernie wing of the party.

“2016 should have taught us that if we allow this primary to become a popularity contest on Twitter rather than a debate of ideas in the public square, the country will lose. We’ve seen this playbook before and it ends with a second term for Donald Trump.”

Delaney on Sunday responded to Ocasio-Cortez's comments by requesting a debate on health care policy.

“Healthcare is too important for tweets, we need a real discussion,” Delaney said in a Tweet, adding it can be on any show of Ocasio-Cortez's choosing.

Hey @AOC, we have the same goal, universal healthcare for everyone, we just have different ways of getting there. Healthcare is the #1 issue for voters, so let’s debate the way forward. Any show of your choosing. Healthcare is too important for tweets, we need real discussion. https://t.co/LDrWa9sZQD — John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) June 3, 2019

Ocasio-Cortez had not responded to Delaney's request as of Monday morning.

Universal health care and Medicare for All is a major issue in the Democratic primary as the Trump administration has targeted and chipped away at parts of ObamaCare.

Candidates are proposing a range of policies and routes toward universal health care.

Ocasio-Cortez supports Medicare for All legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.), one of the current front-runners in the Democratic primary. His legislation is backed by a number of Senate colleagues and primary opponents.