Story highlights Rep. Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential bid Sunday

On Monday, Gabbard criticized Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton's foreign policy experience

(CNN) Rep. Tulsi Gabbard defended Bernie Sanders' foreign policy credentials Monday, echoing his campaign's argument that the choice in the Democratic primary was a "question of experience versus judgment," while criticizing Hillary Clinton's past positions.

"We could look to Dick Cheney if we want to look for experience in foreign policy," Gabbard told CNN's Alisyn Camerota in an interview on "New Day."

A newly minted Sanders surrogate, Gabbard -- who is also a second-term U.S. representative from Hawaii and a rising star in the Democratic Party -- left her position at the Democratic National Committee in high-profile fashion Sunday, announcing on NBC's "Meet the Press" that she was resigning in order to officially endorse the Vermont senator.

And on "New Day," Gabbard, an Army combat veteran, made the case that Sanders -- who has been criticized for his singular focus on economic issues -- was prepared to tackle foreign policy challenges as president.

"We need a commander-in-chief who will exercise good judgment and foresight, and stop getting us into these interventionist, regime-change wars, as we've seen in Iraq, as we've seen in Libya, and as we're seeing now occurring in Syria," Gabbard said. "The stakes are very high and the contrast is very clear between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on these issues."

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