Bernie Sanders explained at the fifth Democratic debate Thursday why he did not use public funding for his campaign.
MSNBC moderator Chuck Todd pressed the Vermont Senator on why, if he’s so in favor of public programs and against Super PACs, he didn’t opt to apply for public funding for his campaign.
“Why aren’t you walking the walk on that?” Todd asked, saying the public funding legislation was designed, essentially, to take big money out of elections in the way Sanders says he wants.
“Actually, we looked at it,” Sanders said. “But it turns out to be a disaster. The way it is structured right now, if you make it all the way to California you can do pretty well. But in terms of the early states, Iowa, New Hampshire, the other states, it just doesn’t work.”
“But your point is well taken,” he continued. “I believe in public funding of elections, absolutely. But this system is, I don’t know if the Secretary would agree, is currently very antiquated and no longer applies to modern-day politics.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton nodded along with Sanders’ answer, a moment of agreement between them in an otherwise contentious debate.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.Rogers@time.com