'Republicans for Bernie Sanders'? The socialist senator says they exist.

Bernie Sanders might be the most left-leaning candidate in the presidential race, but, according to the socialist senator, he's attracting some fans from the right. In an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe Thursday, the Vermont senator addressed his "crossover" with GOP voters.

"There are more than a few Republicans for Bernie Sanders out there," he said. "Don't be surprised if we do well with a number of Republicans."

Sanders acknowledged that while there are certainly some "strong differences" of opinion between him and many Republicans — especially when it comes to abortion and same-sex marriage — he pointed out that there are definitely areas in which they share common ground.

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"But you know, Republicans have to send their kids to college," Sanders said, referring to his proposal to offer free tuition at colleges and universities. "Working-class Republicans can't afford to do that. Working-class Republicans have seen their factories shut down and moved to China. Working-class Republicans are equally disgusted about a campaign-finance system which allows billionaires now to buy elections."

Strange as Sanders' claim may seem, he has attracted the Republican vote before. The Washington Post reports that in his 2012 Senate race for reelection in Vermont, Sanders beat his Republican opponent with 71 percent of the vote.