Sanders Slams Clinton For Withdrawing From Primary Debates

Hillary Clinton's decision to withdraw from a previously planned 10th debate was disappointing but unsurprising, said Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Earlier in February, they had agreed for four more debates to the anticipated six. But now that the former U.S. secretary of state's delegate count all guarantees that she will win over the senator from Vermont in Philadelphia next month, her attention is not focused on the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

"I am disappointed but not surprised by Secretary Clinton's unwillingness to debate before the largest and most important primary in the presidential nominating process," Sanders said Monday, responding to her decision earlier in the day to bow out of a debate before the California primary election June 7. "I hope Secretary Clinton reconsiders her unfortunate decision to back away from her commitment to debate."

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said: "I am disappointed but not surprised by Secretary Clinton's unwillingness to debate before the largest primary. Democracy, and respect for the voters of California, would suggest that there should be a vigorous debate in which the voters may determine whose ideas they support."

He also said that she should not believe that she was going to get all the votes she wanted. He feels that a defeat in California would draw away her superdelegates.

Clinton had the backing of 525 powerful party insiders who can vote for either of them at the Democratic National Convention July 25-28. Sanders had the support of just 39 of them, according to RealClearPolitics.

The presidential-nomination contests will be held on June 7 for six states. California is the most important, with 475 Democratic delegates as well as 71 superdelegates in the fray.

Sanders invoked establishment Democrats to address the needs of the working poor and the young over corporate interests.

"I think if they make the right choice and open the doors to working-class people and young people and create the kind of dynamism that the Democratic Party needs, it's going to be messy," Sanders said. "Democracy is not always nice and quiet and gentle, but that is where the Democratic Party should go."