Clinton vs. Sanders, the Longest War

Hillary Clinton has had enough, and she is finding it harder and harder to hide. She’s sick of not being able to fully respond to Bernie Sanders’ criticisms, at the risk of alienating her Democratic rival’s supporters, who are indispensable support if she wins the nomination. A cold-blooded political animal, Hillary Clinton has mastered the code of public life to perfection. The former first lady learned how to manage her anxiety a long time ago.

But sometimes, the machine gets jammed, like on Thursday, outside a meeting in Purchase, New York. In this hamlet, the Democratic favorite smilingly lent herself to shaking hands and taking selfies. Suddenly, a young Greenpeace activist called out to her: “Thank you for tackling climate change. Will you act on your words and reject future fossil fuel money in your campaign?” The question pierced Hillary Clinton’s armor. With her index finger pointed at the person who had spoken, she replied, “I am so sick of the Sanders campaign lying about me! I’m sick of it!”

The scene soon ended up on YouTube and American television. The fight was followed by emails, with Sanders’ camp accusing the former secretary of state of being bought off by the petroleum industry, and Clinton’s rejecting the crude, unfounded allegations.

According to The Washington Post and The New York Times, Bernie Sanders’ statements are “exaggerated” and “misleading.” According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Hillary Clinton received more than $330,000 from donors with links to fossil fuels. The sum represents about 0.2 percent of the total contributions. Bernie Sanders (who received more than $53,000 dollars of donations linked to fossil fuels) adds that the oil and gas industries are also funding super PACs that support Clinton.

But above all, this episode illustrates Clinton’s growing frustration. Largely ahead in terms of delegates, she remains stuck in a tiresome internal battle with Bernie Sanders, the tone of which is growing ever harder.

For the time being, nothing indicates that the senator has the intention of pulling out. He won six out of the seven previous state contests, and he is marginally ahead in the polls in Wisconsin, which votes on Tuesday. Strengthened by a $44 million war fund, Brooklyn-born Sanders hopes to deprive the former New York senator of a victory in her adopted state. In the latest polls, Clinton’s lead has been considerably reduced.