Democratic presidential election hopeful Tulsi Gabbard blasts Hillary Clinton over Russia remarks

Former US Secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has returned to warn that Russia, which interfered in her 2016 loss, may attempt to recruit a fringe Democrat for a third-party run in 2020. Clinton stopped short of mentioning congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard by name during an appearance on the Campaign HQ With David Plouffe podcast released late Thursday.

Clinton said Kremlin officials had “their eye on somebody who’s currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate.” Five women remain in the race. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar enjoy broader backing than the isolationist candidate from Hawaii; spiritual guide Marianne Williamson would have little value for Moscow.

Sites tied to Russia celebrate Gabbard’s campaign, defend her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad and attack people who call her a Kremlin pawn. Last week, The New York Times quoted influential Republicans impressed by Gabbard’s policy positions and energy. Conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich said she “seems very Trumpian” — a reference to US President Donald Trump, whom Gabbard said she sought to replace.