Sanders camp urges Trump not to 'chicken out' of debate
Bernie Sanders and his deputies are working overtime to make the idea of a debate between the Vermont senator and Donald Trump more than just a late-night joke.
"We want this to happen," Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told POLITICO on Thursday, when asked if the campaign would reach out to its counterpart, hours after Trump said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" he would be willing to debate the Democratic candidate if the proceeds from the event went to charity.
The Republican National Committee also appeared to give a blessing, of sorts, to the showdown, with spokesman Sean Spicer saying it would be “phenomenal.”
“Well, I think if it did, it would be a huge contrast in the direction of this country. I think when you look at what Sanders is offering, the only thing that Bernie Sanders offers is another flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. It's a far left socialist agenda,” Spicer told CNN.
He also managed to get in a knock on Hillary Clinton, who declined an invitation to debate Sanders on Fox News ahead of California’s primary on June 7.
“So I think it would be a phenomenal debate if it happened. The other thing that's odd, by the way, is that Hillary Clinton refuses to fulfill her promise to debate Bernie Sanders, so there is a void because Hillary Clinton refuses to actually keep her word and do what she said and debate in California against Bernie Sanders.”
It’s unclear if the debate will actually materialize, especially because it appears to be Sanders who’s trying to whip up interest in it for his own gain.
Kimmel told Trump that it was Sanders who offered up the question about whether he would be up for a public showdown, and the Vermont senator quickly tweeted after Trump’s remarks aired.
"Game on. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary,” he messaged.
On Thursday, Sanders’ campaign manager was on TV, goading Trump into the debate.
"Well, let's see if he has the courage to get on a stage with Bernie Sanders and go one on one about the important issues facing the country. That'd be the real test,” Jeff Weaver said on MSNBC.
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Sanders camp urges Trump not to 'chicken out' of debate
"PULL UP, p*ssy!!
" - Bernie