WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., continued to raise questions about Hillary Clinton's qualifications to be president on Thursday, the former Secretary of State sought to downplay the dispute in remarks to reporters in New York.
Speaking to supporters Wednesday night, Sanders suggested that Clinton is not qualified, but she described his comments as 'silly.'
'It's kind of a silly thing to say, but I'm going to trust the voters of New York, who know me, and have voted for me three times - twice for senate, once in the presidential primary,' Clinton said.
She added, 'I don't know why he is saying that, but I will take Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump or Ted Cruz anytime.'
Clinton said the focus should be on what's really at stake in the election, arguing that the values of the Republican candidates are antithetical to what's right for New York and America.
Meanwhile, Sanders continued to criticize Clinton for voting in favor of the Iraq war, backing trade agreements and receiving campaign donations from Wall Street and special interests.
'She raised $15 million from Wall Street,' Sanders said. 'Are you qualified to be president of the United States when you're raising millions of dollars from Wall Street, an entity whose greed, recklessness and illegal behavior helped destroy our economy?'
Sanders said his attacks on Clinton's qualifications were spurred in part by a recent headline from the Washington Post that indicated she questioned whether he is qualified to be president.
The Washington Post cited an appearance by Clinton on MSNBC in which she said Sanders was talking about things he hasn't really studied or understood.
(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore)
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