Rahm Emanuel called a possible Democratic presidential nomination of 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.) "a really big risk" if ousting 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 is a priority, prompting host Stephen Colbert Stephen Tyrone ColbertColbert: Trump sharing fake 'F--- tha Police' video made Biden 'way cooler' White House officials deny Trump bears responsibility for social unrest Pelosi questions level of Trump 'responsibility' after 'brazen' shooting of Wisconsin protesters MORE to ask the former Obama chief of staff if he came on the "Late Show" to "kneecap" the Democratic front-runner.

“In the last hundred years, three Democrats have won reelection for president: Franklin Roosevelt, President Clinton, Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina Majority of voters say Trump should not nominate a Supreme Court justice: poll MORE," said Emanuel. He added that all three ran with a goal of building "an urban, suburban, metropolitan coalition."

"Bernie is saying ‘Forget that. Screw it,' " he continued. "Basically, there are about 70 million socialists ready to be awoken to their inner socialist. And I would just say to you if our No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 goal is to get rid of Donald Trump, it is a really big risk to go on a political strategy that has never been tried before.”

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“Are you here tonight to kneecap Bernie Sanders? Because you’re sweeping the leg, you're sweeping the leg here, man,” Colbert said.

“No, here’s the thing,” Emanuel, a former Democratic mayor of Chicago, responded. “You have a presidential contest. You have the U.S. Senate with a good chance to take it. You have the House elections where we have a majority there. You have all the governorships, state houses up. So it’s not just a presidential. This is a national election of national import.”

“Why do you think Bernie is leading then?” Colbert asked.

“I think all the opposition is divided,” Emanuel said. “Ten years ago, 1992, 1996, if you won a presidential election, in 2008, if you had been third or fourth three times in a row, you’d be out."

"But because of the internet and all the fundraising that’s going on, everybody is going to stay around the hoop, thinking this is not possible for Bernie to be there. So you have four or five people still in the field ... and they should be by this time off the field and then it would go one on one.”

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The back-and-forth came after Sanders won a decisive victory in Nevada on Saturday, cementing his front-runner status heading into this weekend's crucial South Carolina primary, where Sanders has been gaining fast on former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE, who has led all polls in the Palmetto State for months.

Sanders easily won the Nevada caucuses. He was followed by Biden and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Bogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq MORE in the third spot.

Sanders also led the 2020 Democratic presidential field a CBS News–YouGov national poll released on Sunday with 28 percent support, compared to Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon MORE (D-Mass.) at 19 percent. Biden is at 17 percent in the same poll, followed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergTop Democratic super PAC launches Florida ad blitz after Bloomberg donation The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations The Memo: 2020 is all about winning Florida MORE and Buttigieg, who come in with 13 and 10 percent support, respectively. Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill EPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Minn.) is sixth in the poll at 5 percent support.