The battle between Democratic opponents Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders has intensified throughout the primary campaign, but DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says there is no real animosity between the candidates.
“I really think that’s some drama created by the media that isn’t there,” she told Trevor Noah on Monday’s episode of The Daily Show. “I’m very proud of our candidates, and their supporters should be proud of them – and I know they are. […] Look, from my my standpoint, I want them debating every day. And I bet my counterpart, [RNC chair] Reince Priebus, wants [the Republican candidates] to debate never. Because every time they open their mouth, they do something to alienate somebody else. I’m so proud of our candidates because they have talked about how to move our country forward.”
Despite her insistence that things were drama-free inside the Democratic party, Noah pushed Schultz on the feeling that the DNC is pro-Clinton. “A lot of people feel that Bernie Sanders been, I’m going to paraphrase or quote, Bernie is being c—blocked by the DNC,” Noah said. “Is there any merit to this?”
“As powerful as that makes me feel, I’m not doing a very good job of rigging the outcome or blocking anyone from being able to get their message out,” Schultz said in response. “The reality is I have a job as a national party chair that, one, requires a thick skin. It requires me to be able to absorb the body blows so our candidates can stay above the fray. If I have to take a few punches in order for them to be able to get their message out, then so be it. I’m all about making sure we can ultimately elect our party’s nominee in the general election.”
Schultz added that while the Republican party seems increasingly headed toward a contested convention, the Democrats will unite under one candidate.
“At the end of the day we’re going to come together, I’m confident. We’re going to have our primary process unfold and a nominee will be chosen by the people who have cast votes well before we get to the convention,” she said.
Watch the full segment above.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com