When he ran for president, Al Sharpton never saw crowds Bernie Sanders is getting, like the 10,000 who turned out in Madison, Wisconsin.

So there could have been a twinge of jealousy in his voice when Sharpton scrutinized the current reaction to the Vermont senator’s candidacy.

Speaking of potential attacks from Clinton’s campaign, Sharpton said, “But that could backfire because sometimes, I think that when you start attacking someone who is perceived as the face of a movement, because let’s remember we’re not dealing with the charisma of Bernie Sanders, we’re dealing with the popularism that he represents.

“When you start attacking that, you may even generate more of a crowd.”

Sharpton was presumably referring to Sanders’ “populism” stands on issues, which are in stark contrast to Clinton’s inclination towards Wall Street and character assassination-style politics.