"We do not want a bigot to become president": Watch Bernie Sanders explain his new strategy to Stephen Colbert

"What we're doing now is marshaling our resources to make sure that ... we defeat Donald Trump," Bernie said

Published June 24, 2016 1:26PM (EDT)

Before his speech in New York City Thursday night, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders swung by Stephen Colbert's "Late Show."

Asked if he planned to continue to be a presidential candidate despite Hillary Clinton's clinching the nomination, Sanders said "absolutely."

"I am very good in arithmetic," he said. "What we're doing now is marshaling our resources to make sure that ... we defeat Donald Trump and we defeat him badly."

Beyond defeating GOP nominee Donald Trump in the general election, Sanders noted his "12 million" (later fact-checked to 13 million) votes, who should have some amount of influence on determining the Democratic party platform.

"Our campaign is talking to Secretary Clinton and her campaign," he assured. "And what we are trying to do is make certain that she's gonna come out very strongly in moving toward making public colleges and universities tuition-free."

Amid all the talk of Democratic party unification, it's believed Trump is trying to convince would-have-been Sanders voters to embrace his anti-establishment platform. Asked about it, Sanders didn't give that prospect the time of day.

"My supporters are smart enough to know that we do not want a bigot to become president of the United States," he said.

Watch the two-part interview below:


By Brendan Gauthier

Brendan Gauthier is a freelance writer.

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