INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016 Sanders says he has a ‘path toward victory’ Rejects suggestions to step down from race

WASHINGTON: Vermont Sen Bernie campaign was able to accumulate more del- Sanders says he still maintains a “path egates. toward victory” in his Democratic presiden- He predicted the upcoming calendar of tial bid against Hillary Clinton, rejecting sug- races in several Western states, including gestions that she has all but sewn up the Arizona and Washington, and April contests party’s nomination. in Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania “I don’t believe they have an insurmount- would offer him the chance to catch up. “We able lead,” Sanders said Thursday in a phone think from now on out, we are having states interview with The Associated Press from that, everything being equal, we stand a Arizona, where he was campaigning. chance to do well in. We think we have a “Secretary Clinton has done phenomenally path toward victory,” he said, pointing to well in the Deep South and in Florida. That’s California’s June primary. “We’ve got some where she has gotten the lion’s share of big states coming up and we think if we can votes. And I congratulate her for that. But do well, if we go into the convention with we’re out of the Deep South now.” delegates, we’ve got a shot at taking the Clinton’s campaign pointed to a recent nomination.” memo by campaign manager Robby Mook, Sanders also rejected claims by Clinton’s who suggested she has an “insurmountable allies that his message had turned overly lead” in the delegate count. The campaign negative in recent weeks. “These are folks noted its pledged delegate lead of more who have waged some very, very strong than 300 is nearly twice as large as any that attacks against me almost every day,” he then-Illinois Sen Barack Obama held over said, pointing to Clinton’s suggestion he did- Clinton in the 2008 primary. n’t support the bailout of U.S. automakers or “And note Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, had attacked Planned Parenthood. Nevada and Iowa are generally not consid- “We have never run a negative ad. But not ered Deep South,” said Clinton spokesman to discuss Secretary Clinton’s record, well, Brian Fallon, referring to states won by the that’s what a campaign is about. She can dis- ex-secretary of state. Sanders said in the FLAGSTAFF: Democratic presidential candidate, Sen Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, speaks at a agree with me on the issues. We will express interview he would not seek a recount of campaign rally at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort. — AP our disagreements,” he said. Sanders said he results in Tuesday’s primary in Missouri, say- fully expects the party to unite after the pri- ing it was “unlikely the results will impact at all five of Tuesday’s Democratic primary back any candidate, Clinton has a much big- maries. “I think every sensible person in this all the number of delegates the candidate contests. She also beat Sanders in Florida, ger lead - 1,614 to 856. country knows that it would be an incredible gets and I would prefer to save the taxpay- Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina. Clinton Sanders called his loss in Ohio a “major disaster for the United States to allow a ers of Missouri some money.” now has a lead of more than 300 pledged disappointment,” adding, “I thought we had Donald Trump or Ted Cruz to be president,” delegates over Sanders from the primaries a chance to win or come close in Ohio and he said. “So I am fully confident that people ‘Major disappointment’ and caucuses: 1,147-830. When including we didn’t.” But he said that while “we know will come together to defeat whomever the Clinton’s win in Missouri means she won superdelegates, or party officials who can we’ve got a hill to climb,” he was pleased his Republicans bring up,” Sanders said. — AP