Democratic presidential candidate Bernard Sanders was visibly annoyed during a press conference Monday after a New York Times reporter asked whether it’s “sexist” for him to stay in the race against front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Yamiche Alcindor asked the Vermont senator, “What do you say to women who say that you staying in the race is sexist because it’s getting in the way of what could be the first female president?”

“Is that a serious question?” Mr. Sanders asked with a laugh.

“Yes, it is a serious question,” Ms. Alcindor responded.

“Your question implies that any woman … who is running for president is by definition the best candidate — so any woman who runs,” Mr. Sanders said. “So if Hillary Clinton runs for president, is your point that it is sexist for any man to oppose her?”

Ms. Alcindor responded that Mrs. Clinton has more delegates than Mr. Sanders.

“Then that’s another point,” Mr. Sanders interjected. “I don’t think it’s sexist. I think the issue is, first of all, our focus right now is running and winning right here in California. And the second point that I have made is that it is absolutely imperative that we defeat Donald Trump as a candidate for president of the United States. I believe I am the stronger candidate.”

After the press conference, Ms. Alcindor tweeted: “Some women think @BernieSanders will be standing in way of history tmrw if HRC wins & he doesn’t concede. He got testy when I asked; Oh well.”

Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Clinton are blitzing California Tuesday on their final day of campaigning in the state’s Democratic primary. An Associated Press survey of Democratic superdelegates revealed Monday evening that Mrs. Clinton will be the party’s nominee.

The Sanders campaign called it “unfortunate” that the media rushed to count the votes of superdelegates before they actually vote at the convention this summer.

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