Bernie Sanders: 'We need a political revolution in this country'

Bernie Sanders
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wants to be the change.

In an interview with ABC's This Week on Sunday, Sanders told host George Stephanopoulos (and viewers), "Don't underestimate me." He knows that most people don't think he'll win the 2016 presidential election, and he wants to alter that mindset.

"We need a political revolution in this country, and I want to lead that effort," Sanders said. He cited his successful bids to become mayor of Burlington, Vermont, as well as being elected to the U.S. House and to the Senate, as examples of his political victories.

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Sanders, an independent socialist, is after the Democratic presidential nomination, though many believe he won't defeat Hillary Clinton. "I respect her, and I like her, but... maybe it's a time for a real political shake-up in this country," Sanders said of Clinton.

In the interview, Sanders also praised Norway, Denmark, and Sweden for their democratic socialism, which he said better serve average citizens than the U.S. government does. He cited free college and free health care as examples. "The fact of the matter is, we do a lot in our country, which is good," Sanders said. "But we can learn from other countries."

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.