Obama: In 2008, ‘Media Probably Was a Little Unfair’ to Clinton ‘and Tilted a Little My Way’

THRUSH: “The rigor of absorbing that or the rigor of imposing that upon an opposing candidate? Because she was very — because one of the things that’s striking — and so, one of the things that was really striking being out there in Iowa was -- and I was with her for 18 months in 2007 and 2008.”

OBAMA: “Right, right.”

THRUSH: “It was the Bataan Death March.”

OBAMA: “Right.”

THRUSH: “So, being with her, the same pointed tone in terms of the criticism is emerging on Sanders — it’s practically the same language. It’s really interesting.”

OBAMA: “Right, right.”

THRUSH: “Did that work? Do you think it will work, in terms of drawing contrasts?”

OBAMA: “Well, here’s my view: that whoever the nominee is is going to need the other person’s supporters. And I think it is entirely legitimate to draw sharp contrasts where there are contrasts and it is important, however, to maintain a tone in which people feel as if you’re playing fair. And I think Hillary has done that so far, and I think that the truth is in 2007 and 2008, sometimes my supporters and my staff, I think, got too huffy about what were legitimate questions she was raising. And, you know, there were times where I think the media probably was a little unfair to her and tilted a little my way in the — in calling her out when she was tough and not calling some of our folks out as much when we were tough in ads.”