Obama’s Pledge on Gun Control Sets Off Skirmish Between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

Senator Bernie Sanders at Town Hall in Manhattan on Tuesday.Credit Damon Winter/The New York Times

Updated, 7:07 p.m. | President Obama’s pledge not to back any Democrat who does not support new gun-control measures set off a new skirmish late Friday between Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, with Mr. Sanders facing fresh questions over his record on the issue.

Mrs. Clinton called on Mr. Sanders to admit he was wrong for having supported legislation that shields gun makers and dealers from liability lawsuits.

Mr. Sanders’s campaign manager hit back by accusing Mrs. Clinton of flip-flopping on the subject by favoring expanded gun control measures as a Senate candidate in 2000, then positioning herself alongside gun owners in opposition to Mr. Obama during their 2008 primary, before arriving at her present position favoring strict new measures.

The back-and-forth between the two leading Democrats vying to succeed Mr. Obama came after the White House stopped conspicuously short of affirming that the president would campaign for Mr. Sanders if he became the Democratic nominee.

Source New York Times