Hillary Clinton Campaign Press Release - Facing Pressure, Sanders Turns to More Negative Attacks, Undermining Promise to Run a Different Kind of Campaign

NYT: Bernie Sanders at a Crossroads: Attack Hillary Clinton or Stay Positive?

WSJ: How Bernie Sanders Undercuts Hillary Clinton's Character

NEW VIDEO: Is Bernie Sanders About To Run Negative Attack Ads?

After touting his positive campaign repeatedly on the trail, the New York Times this morning reported that the Sanders campaign is now publicly weighing the option to "directly attack" on Hillary Clinton on the airwaves – in violation of Senator Sanders' repeated pledge never to run a negative TV ad.

While this is a clear escalation, attacks from the Sanders campaign have been building for months. Just today, the Wall Street Journal wrote about how Bernie Sanders is using his stump speech to attack Secretary Clinton's character. Last year, after a reporter called to question it, the Sanders campaign was forced to take down a negative online ad when Sanders himself admitted it crossed the line in attacking Secretary Clinton.

And this month, the Sanders campaign faced criticism for running a TV ad that was an implicit attack on Hillary Clinton.

• MSNBC: "[Sanders is] broadcasting a paid TV ad with that message is a major escalation, and a potentially risky one for a candidate who has vowed not to go negative."
• TIME: Sanders Hits Clinton With a Roundabout Jab in New Ad
• Washington Examiner's Ariel Cohen: "Sanders once vowed to run a "positive campaign" but that's changed since he surpassed Clinton in the polls.
• Huffington Post's Sam Stein: Bernie's campaign will protest. But this is an attack ad even if he doesn't mention Clinton by name
• The Hill: Sanders ad hits Clinton on Wall Street
• Politico: New Sanders ad lands indirect hit on Clinton

As the Iowa caucus has drawn nearer, Sanders has even taken to making personal attacks on Clinton. And now, under pressure with just five days left until the contest, the campaign is going public with active discussions about launching "direct" attacks against Hillary Clinton on TV—and the Clinton campaign has released a new video highlighting the difference between Senator Sanders' previous claims and his recent attacks. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/PydyTQXs59E

"It's disappointing that Senator Sanders has abandoned his claims of a positive campaign in order to parrot Karl Rove's attacks against Hillary Clinton. From comparisons to Dick Cheney to personal attacks, Bernie Sanders and his campaign have repeatedly violated their pledge to run a different kind of campaign," said Deputy Communications Director Christina Reynolds. 

BACKGROUND: SANDERS PROMISED REPEATEDLY NOT TO GO NEGATIVE:

VIDEO: Bernie Sanders: "You're Looking At Somebody Who Has Never Run A Negative TV Ad In His Life And Never Will." [ABC News, 12/15/15]

Sen. Bernie Sanders, September 2015: "We don't run negative ads."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, August 2015: "As someone who has never run a negative political ad in his life, my campaign will be driven by issues and serious debate."

Mother Jones, June 2015: "Sanders won't even do a straight-up contrast ad… 'If we do that, we're done,' [Sanders strategist Tad] Devine says. 'If we do a classic comparative ad, it's over. We'll have to be smarter."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, September 2015: "I happen to have known – know Hillary Clinton for the last 25 years. I respect her. I admire her. I'm not going to get into the business of attacking her. I have never run a negative political ad in my life."

Sanders advisor Tad Devine, November 2015: "This campaign is never going to be about attacking her, and pushing back on her and diminishing her."

The Hill, August 2015: "Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will 'never' run attack ads against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, a top adviser to the liberal firebrand told The Hill."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, April 2015: "I'm not running against Hillary Clinton."

BACKGROUND ON BERNIE SANDERS' NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN: 

Bloomberg: "Clinton Refrains From Attacking Sanders. He Doesn't Reciprocate." [Bloomberg, 1/24/16]

NPR: Bernie Sanders' New, More Aggressive Campaign Game [NPR, 1/20/16]

CNN: Bernie Sanders Goes Negative With Goldman Sachs, Iraq Jabs. [CNN, 1/20/16]

Washington Post: "Bernie Sanders Knocks 'Unnamed Candidate' For Taking Goldman Sachs Speaking Fees." [Washington Post, 1/19/16]

Reuters: Sanders Lashes Out At Clinton In Contentious Democratic Debate. [Reuters, 1/18/16]

Wall Street Journal: How Bernie Sanders Undercuts Hillary Clinton's Character [Wall Street Journal, 1/27/16]

The Hill: "Bernie Sanders Made A Point Of Breaking From His Pledge To Run A Positive Campaign Monday Night, As He Launched Into Full-Scale Attack Mode Against" Clinton At CNN's Democratic Forum. [The Hill, 1/25/16]

Washington Post: "Even As He Tries To Claim The Moral High Ground, Sanders Is Stepping Up His Critique Of Clinton Considerably." [Washington Post, 1/24/16]

Washington Post: Sanders "Is Attacking Clinton More Directly, Not Only On Policy Differences But Also On Personal Character." [Washington Post, 1/24/16]

CNN: Sanders Was "Sharpening His Attacks On Hillary Clinton" During Weeks Before Iowa.  [CNN, 1/21/16]

CNN: Sanders "Dropped The Nice Guy Routine" And Criticized Clinton For Her Wall Street Connections.[CNN, 1/20/16]

NPR: Sanders Had "An Increasing Tendency To Throw Political Punches At Hillary Clinton." [NPR, 1/20/16]Politico: Sanders "Came [To The Debate] With More Planned Personal Attacks In His Pocket Than He Has In The Past." [Politico, 1/17/16] 

CNN: "Sanders Did Show A New Willingness To Attack Clinton On Personal Matters."  [CNN, 1/18/16]

CNN: Sanders Appeared To Sense "It's Time To Strike" Though He "Often Crowed That He'd Never Run A Negative Attack Ad." [CNN, 1/18/16]

CNN: Sanders "Was Far More Comfortable In Attacking Clinton Than In His Previous Debate Encounters" [CNN, 1/17/16]