Hillary Clinton announced Friday a long list of supporters from Bernie Sanders’ backyard.
On the eve of Saturday’s Democratic debate in Iowa, the Clinton campaign rolled out their Vermont Leadership Council, a needling of the state’s independent senator, Sanders, who has lived and worked in Vermont for more than 50 years and is now top challenger to Clinton in the Democratic primary.
Clinton’s campaign started rolling out leadership teams in early October, and have so far built teams in eight states, including Colorado, New York and Virginia. Their ninth rollout, Vermont, is a not so subtle hint to Sanders — whose campaign is based in the state — that their support runs deep.
The list, which the Burlington Free Press called the “who’s-who of local Democrats,” also includes Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. Sanders served as Burlington’s mayor for eight years in the 1980s.
The 25-name list includes endorsements that have already been rolled out.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, the state’s senator for 40 years and Sanders’ colleague, was the top name on the list. But Leahy endorsed Clinton back in June 2014.
The same is true for Gov. Peter Shumlin, who endorsed in May, and former Gov. Howard Dean, who endorsed in September.
Also on the list: Montpelier Mayor John Hollar, Former Gov. Madeleine Kunin and State Reps. Maxine Grad and Sarah Buxton.
Asked to respond to Clinton’s leadership team, a Sanders spokesman sent CNN a poll done by the Castleton Polling Institute that showed 65% of Vermonters support their senator in 2016, compared to 14% for Clinton.
The Clinton campaign also announced their Missouri Leadership Council on Friday morning, a list that includes Gov. Jay Nixon, Sen. Claire McCaskill and U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Lacy Clay.
