The former First Daughter went on the attack against her mom’s Democratic opponent, Sen Bernie Sanders, saying that Bernie’s healthcare proposal would “dismantle” Obamacare. The attack is a sure sign that things are not okay in the Clinton camp, according to some Democratic strategists.
Making her first solo appearance on the stump, Chelsea Clinton late Tuesday ripped Sanders over his proposals on healthcare and college affordability, arguing the White House hopeful wants to “dismantle” ObamaCare and Medicare.
Democrats have almost universally panned the attack, believing it to be ineffective and a misuse of her talents.
They note that Chelsea Clinton has mostly been used to highlight Hillary Clinton’s softer side as a mother and grandmother and say she seemed uncomfortable shedding her first daughter persona for the role of attack dog.
“The thing that tells you as much as anything about [the Clinton campaign’s] current state of mind is Chelsea going on the attack. It tells you everything you need to know,” said one Democratic strategist. “That this [challenge from Sanders] is real and they’ve got to be freaking out.”
The attack caught many Democrats, including Sanders and his supporters, by surprise.
Following Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, CNN played the clip of Chelsea Clinton’s criticism directly to Sanders. The Vermont senator held back a wry smile as he offered a measured rebuke of Chelsea, who is nearly 40 years his junior.
“As much as I admire Chelsea, she didn’t read the plan,” he said.
