Presidential races

Sanders canvassers told to target Trump backers

Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders
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Canvassers working on the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are being instructed to sell their candidate to Donald Trump supporters.

The campaign provided them a specific script to use when encountered by people who say they back the billionaire Republican businessman.

“A lot of people feel like this country isn’t working for them — because it’s not,” Sanders canvassers are instructed to say, according to a copy of the script obtained by MSNBC.

“[T]he solution is not to turn to someone like Trump, with a message of hate, xenophobia, and division — it’s to elect a leader with integrity like Bernie, who’s proven time and again that he won’t be held hostage by moneyed special interests,” it continues.

“That’s the right way to address the challenges we face.”

The internal memo reflects recent public appeals made by Sanders to Trump supporters.

“What Trump has done with some success is taken that anger, taken those fears which are legitimate, and converted them into anger against Mexicans, anger against Muslims,” Sanders said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“I think for his working-class and middle-class supporters, I think we can make the case that if we really want to address the issues that people are concerned about … we need policies that bring us together,” he added.

Trump earlier this week called Sanders “a wacko” but maintained he would be able to poach his supporters.

“Strange, but I see wacko Bernie Sanders’ allies coming over to me because I’m lowering taxes, while he will double and triple them – a disaster!” Trump tweeted.

Tags Bernie Sanders Donald Trump

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