Paul Begala: ‘Bernie Is Real,’ ‘This Is Going To Be A Real Race’ [VIDEO]

CNN commentator and Hillary Clinton supporter Paul Begala didn’t shy away from Bernie Sanders’ surging poll numbers in recent weeks on “New Day,” admitting Tuesday that Sanders support is alive and well in early primary states.

Begala, who currently serves as a senior adviser to a pro-Hillary Super PAC, said to hosts Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota that “Bernie is real,” adding further that the Democratic primary “is going to be a real race.” (Begala: Potential Biden 2016 Candidacy ‘Enormously Formidable’ To Hillary)

Begala was reacting to a recent Quinnipiac polling showing that Sanders has jumped from 15 percent to 33 percent among Iowa Democrats in less than two months, while Clinton has dropped from 60 percent to 52 percent.

“First, they’re real. Bernie is real,” Begala said. “And it’s a burden I carry, and I hope it carry it with grace, this burden of prophecy. How many months have I come on our air and said when Bernie was a blip that this was not going to be a coronation, and it won’t be.”

“Look at that number, 52 [percent] — Hillary will not get 52 percent in Iowa in 209 days. She will not,” Begala told the hosts. “Nobody has gotten over 50 percent in the Iowa caucuses in either party except incumbent presidents, vice presidents, and Tom Harkin, the legendary Iowa senator who was a home state favorite. She won’t get 50 [percent]. Nobody does in my party or the Republican Party.”

“This is going to be a real race,” Begala added, “and I think actually that’s good for the Democratic Party.”