Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) said on Sunday that he is not concerned that down-ballot candidates would be hurt if Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE (I-Vt.) wins the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

CNN’s Jake Tapper Jacob (Jake) Paul TapperThe Memo: Media accused of using kid-gloves on Biden CNN slammed for soft questions during Biden town hall: 'The media is broken' Biden's team says he views election against Trump as 'Park Avenue vs. Scranton' MORE asked Dean on "State of the Union" if he is “concerned of what it might mean for the Democratic Party in terms of winning the White House in November or winning down-ballot tickets” if Sanders is the nominee.

Dean, a former Democratic National Committee chairman and 2004 presidential candidate, answered that he is not worried “at all.”

“I’ll tell you why. [Sanders] certainly is a polarizing candidate, but we have an incredibly polarizing person on the other side,” Dean said, referring to President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE.

"He is certainly a polarizing candidate, but we have an incredibly polarizing person on the other side," says former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean about Bernie Sanders. "As I said before, he showed last night that he can energize the core base" #CNNSOTU https://t.co/SnZzAZFoU0 pic.twitter.com/wOfeU5g8WJ — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 23, 2020

Dean also said that Sanders has demonstrated he has the ability to “energize our core base,” and could turn out “swing voters” who wouldn’t ordinarily cast a ballot.

“If he continues to do this, I do think he’s going to be the nominee,” Dean said. “But I’m not ready to say that.”

“But certainly I’d probably rather be where Bernie is than anybody else,” he added.

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Sanders has had a strong start in the Democratic race, winning in New Hampshire and Nevada and finishing a close second in Iowa.

The Vermont progressive currently has 29 delegates, with eight so far coming from Nevada’s caucuses Saturday. About 28 delegates for Nevada had not been allocated to candidates as of Sunday morning.