Bernie Sanders says 'of course' Hillary Clinton is qualified to be president

NEW YORK — Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders struck a more conciliatory tone Friday toward his rival Hillary Clinton, saying that “of course” she is qualified to be president and adding that he is eager to return to a discussion of “real issues.”

Sanders’s assessment came two days after a speech in which he ticked off ways in which he said Clinton is unqualified for the presidency, including her acceptance of special interest money, her support of free trade deals and her support of the Iraq war.

During an appearance at a “town hall” meeting broadcast live on NBC’s “Today” show on Friday, Sanders said, as he has repeatedly since Wednesday, that his comments were prompted by attacks from Clinton’s campaign following his win this week in the Wisconsin primary.

The senator from Vermont was asked by co-anchor Savannah Guthrie if he had overreacted to comments by Clinton earlier Wednesday suggesting he was unprepared for the presidency.

Did you overreact because you thought she said something more than she did?” Guthrie asked.“Here’s the truth,” Sanders said. “I’ve known Hillary Clinton for 25 years. I respect Hillary Clinton. We were colleagues in the Senate, and on her worst day, she would be an infinitely better president than either of the Republican candidates.”
“She’s qualified?” Guthrie asked.
“Of course,” Sanders said, “but the point is I would hope we get away from these attacks, which by the way, the media likes very much, and start focusing — maybe we can do that today — on the real issues.”