Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke out against Democratic front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) signature campaign proposal, Medicare-for-all, saying there was “not a chance in hell it would pass” in Congress.
“I think the world of Bernie Sanders,” Reid (D-Nev.) said in an interview with ABC News Political Director Rick Klein Wednesday, before issuing the caveat that he was against the Democratic socialist’s single-payer health care plan.
“I’m against it. It’s impractical…There’s not a chance in hell it would pass [in Congress],” he told Klein.
Instead, Reid said that he supported expanding the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and passing a public option.
The longtime Nevada lawmaker went on to praise Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who he said he discovered and brought to the Senate, and billionaire former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who he said deserved recognition for his philanthropic work and contributions to fighting climate change and gun violence.
“One of the things that I feel very good about is that I discovered Elizabeth Warren, brought her to Washington when we had the Wall Street collapse. She became head of the oversight committee and did a really good job…so I think the world of Elizabeth Warren,” Reid said.
“[Bloomberg] has, like a lot of candidates, a lot of warts and pimples,” he quipped, adding “But the one thing I have to say about him is no one in the country has done more in climate and guns than he has. So I respect him if for no other reason, those two things that he’s done I think have been wonderful.”
The former Senate Majority Leader also issued words of caution to Democrats regarding the current commander-in-chief.
“[Trump] could win, and we have to be vigilant and make sure we do everything, and that the man is not reelected,” Reid warned, saying that Democrats could not “take for granted that Trump will lose.”