Hillary Clinton, if she were to win the White House, would govern the country from the middle, said former Sen. Bill Bradley, who unsuccessfully sought the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination.

The presumptive 2016 Democratic nominee would "carry the banner of hope over the banner of hate," Bradley told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday, referring to Republican Donald Trump's statements regarding Muslims and Mexican immigrants.

Bradley said Trump demonstrated he's not a leader based on his vitriol following the deadly terror attack in Orlando over the weekend.



"I think [Clinton] will be left-middle. To me, that's where America is. It's not far right," said the former New Jersey senator, rebutting the notion that Bernie Sanders, a self described Democratic socialist, pushed Clinton to the far-left during the nominating process.

"This year, it's no choice for me; Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump? I mean, [that's] light versus darkness," said Bradley, who had supported Barack Obama over Clinton in 2008.

Bradley, managing director at investment bank Allen & Co., did offer kind words about Sanders, saying the Vermont senator brought up many important issues during his campaign related to Wall Street and wealth inequality.

In challenging Al Gore for the 2000 nomination, Bradley, like Sanders, ran as a more liberal alternative to the front-runner. Bradley didn't last long, and Gore easily become the party nominee.

Gore eventually conceded the general election to George W. Bush, after the 36-day Florida recount was halted by the Supreme Court.

Before he entered politics, Bradley played basketball with the New York Knicks.