Pharrell Williams, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders greet supporters during a campaign rally on Nov. 3, 2016 in Raleigh, N.C. Sanders campaigned for Clinton in 2016 after losing the party’s nomination. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images 2020 Elections Sanders says he's not interested in asking Hillary Clinton for 2020 advice

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Friday that he hasn’t spoken to Hillary Clinton for advice on the 2020 race, and frankly, he isn’t interested.

“Hillary and I have fundamental differences and that’s just what it is,” Sanders (I-Vt.) said on "The View."


Multiple news outlets have reported that Clinton has met with 2020 hopefuls to advise on the race. But when asked whether he plans to meet with the former Democratic nominee, Sanders flatly said: “I suspect not.”

When the Vermont independent announced his candidacy last month, he joined a crowded and diverse field running the gamut on Democratic ideology. Sanders’ defense of democratic socialism has been a punching back for allies of President Donald Trump and other conservatives, but he enters 2020 largely free of the characterizations as an idealistic fringe candidate of three years ago.

In her book, "What Happened," Clinton placed blame on Sanders for contributing to her 2016 loss, arguing he detracted several would-be voters. The beef appears to persist and was apparent in Sanders’ Friday interview.

“Hillary has not called me. Look, we have differences,” Sanders said, trailing off before conceding: “Hillary has played a very important role in modern American politics.”

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But Sanders did not seem to let ideological differences get in the way of backing other hopefuls: He said his main objective in 2020 is to vote out Trump and said he would support any candidate the Democrats choose to do so.

“I hope to be the Democratic nominee and have the support of the whole Democratic Party behind me,” Sanders said. “If I am not and somebody else is, I will support that candidate because what’s most important is that Trump be defeated.”

Sanders campaigned for Clinton in 2016 after losing the party’s nomination.

