WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders admitted Sunday he “got decimated” by Hillary Clinton in South Carolina but predicted he’d be able to string together enough wins on high-stakes Super Tuesday to secure the Democratic nomination.
“We do have a path to victory,” the Vermont senator said on “Face the Nation,” a day after he was trounced in the South Carolina primary, 73.5 percent to 26 percent.
Strong African-American support buoyed the victory, which Clinton hopes will carry her through diverse Super Tuesday Southern states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
“We got decimated, that’s what happened,” Sanders told “Meet the Press.” “Among older African-Americans, it was pathetic from our perspective.”
About 880 delegates will be awarded Tuesday, or about a third of those needed for the Democratic nomination. Polls show Clinton leads in the majority of the states.
Sanders says he expects to do well in Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Massachusetts and his home state of Vermont.
“It’s going to be a tough fight. I think we can pull it off,” Sanders said.
Strengthened by her big victory, Clinton on Sunday looked beyond Sanders, and focused on beating Republicans in November.
“I’m looking forward — if I’m fortunate to be the nominee — to debate any one of them,” a confident Clinton told a Nashville rally.
“I believe that America is great right now,” she added in a dig at Donald Trump’s slogan, “Make America great again.” “What we need is to be whole.”
Sanders got a boost Sunday when Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) said she’s stepping down as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee to back his campaign.
Gabbard, a rising star within the party, has tussled with the Democratic leadership of Debbie Wasserman Schultz for limiting debates and aiding in a coronation of Clinton. “We need a commander in chief who has foresight and good judgment,” Gabbard told “Meet the Press.”
Clinton campaigned Sunday with Tony Goldwyn, who stars as President Fitz Grant on “Scandal.” Between Clinton and Sanders, “there’s just no contest,” Goldwyn told a Nashville crowd, and took aim at Sanders’ call for a political revolution. “Revolution is a very exciting and thrilling word. But revolutions can also be destructive.”
Clinton added that “Scandal” star Kerry Washington cut new campaign ads for her White House bid.