SHOT: Sanders’ Chief Strategist says “the reason” Bernie Sanders lost in 1988 was his opposition to assault weapons.
Tad Devine: “The reason [Bernie Sanders] lost his first race for Congress in Vermont was his opposition to assault weapons.” “DEVINE: It’s the reason he lost his first race for congress in Vermont was his opposition to assault weapons saying they shouldn’t be in the streets, and there were aspects of that bill that were bad.” [CNN, 4/11/16]
CHASER: Bernie Sanders’ claim he lost his 1998 election over assault weapons ban received ‘Two Pinocchios’ from The Washington Post’s Fact Checker.
The Washington Post’s Fact Checker gave Bernie Sanders’ claim that he “probably lost” his election in 1988 because of his opposition to assault weapons ‘Two Pinocchios.’ “Sanders, interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Jan. 17, 2016 […] But can he really suggest that stance cost him the 1988 election? The evidence is mixed. He could have just as easily lost the election because he split votes with a Democrat, as opposed to being the only candidate without an NRA endorsement. In 1990, even Sanders was less sure that his failure to get an NRA endorsement two years prior was a major factor in his loss (“It might have been. We don’t know. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.”) Somewhere between 1990 and 2016, Sanders seems to have decided it’s played a bigger role than he originally thought. Two Pinocchios.” [Washington Post, 1/21/16]