Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says he is indeed considering a White House bid in 2016 because there is "profound anger" in America about income inequality and Washington's debilitating partisanship.

"I am thinking about running for president," he said on Meet the Press, eschewing the vaguer phrasing typically used by other politicians believed to be considering 2016 campaigns.

"The truth is — profound anger at both political parties," he added. "More and more people are becoming independent."

Sanders said he was weighing whether to run as a Democrat or Independent, noting the difficulties running without the support of a national party would entail. However, he would not comment directly on whether his potential candidacy would be a refutation of Hillary Clinton, saying only that he didn't know if she would run, nor what she would stand for if she did.