Clinton supporter: Nevada convention violence an ‘aberration’

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said is defending Bernie Sanders over accusations that the Democratic presidential hopeful is not doing enough to corral his supporters following violent outbursts at the Nevada State Democratic Convention.

{mosads}“I kind of agree with Bernie on this one,” McCaskill, who’s supporting front-runner Hillary Clinton, said during an interview with CBS’s “This Morning.” “I think that Nevada was an aberration. I think the millions of Bernie Sanders supporters are not people who want to resort to harassment and threats and throwing chairs.

“I do believe this was an outlier because I think the millions of people who support him are impassioned and inspired by the message that Bernie is delivering,” she added.

McCaskill also said that the math laying out Sanders’s chances of winning the nomination is “unforgiving.” But she predicted that the Vermont senator will do his part when the time comes for the party to unite against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“I am confident that Bernie will be there when the time comes,” she said.

During the Nevada convention last weekend, Sanders supporters upset over the delegate selection process reportedly threw chairs and loudly booed when Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) gave a speech in support of Clinton.

Sanders supporters dispute reports about chairs being thrown, saying no video evidence has emerged.

The convention chairwoman, Roberta Lange, later reported death threats from Sanders supporters.

Sanders has been roundly criticized by Democratic leaders, many of whom back Clinton, for not denouncing the behavior of these supporters in stronger terms. McCaskill said that the response is the result of an “emotional campaign.”

“When Barbara Boxer, an icon in the progressive movement, is called vulgar names and booed off the stage and feels threatened and harassed, I think it got a lot of people upset,” she said. “Passions are high, everyone is tired, it’s been an emotional campaign.”

–This report was updated at 12:53 p.m.