Although polls have him leading Hillary Clinton by double digits in New Hampshire, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said he expects Tuesday’s primary to be a close one.
“We think it’s gonna be a close election, we’re working really hard,” Sanders told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Saturday in Rindge, N.H.
{mosads}“Don’t make me nervous, and don’t jinx me,” he responded, after Tapper said he was favored to win.
The Vermont senator dismissed Clinton’s rhetoric that he’s only leading in New Hampshire because he hails from a neighboring state.
He said the remark was insulting to New Hampshire voters.
“Well, in this sense it is,” he said. “Look, I mean, obviously Vermont and New Hampshire are separated by a river, we are close states.
“But you know what? Secretary Clinton won this state in 2008, Her husband ran several campaigns in this state. When we began this campaign here in New Hampshire, we were down 30 points in the polls and she was much better known in this state than I was.”
Sanders also pointed to Clinton’s support among the “entire political establishment here in New Hampshire.”
Clinton has acknowledged Sanders’ significant lead in the primary, but said she is not willing to give up on New Hampshire yet.