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Sanders Holds Rallies In Brooklyn As Clinton Campaigns Upstate

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Democratic presidential candidates were back on the campaign trail in New York Friday in preparation for the state's primaries on April 19.

As CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported, Sanders held a rally on Friday outside his boyhood home in Midwood, Brooklyn. He lived in the neighborhood until he was 18 on East 26th Street, 1010 WINS' Steve Kastenbaum reported.

PHOTOS: Bernie Sanders Rallies In Brooklyn

The second event was held at WNYC Transmitter Park in Greenpoint.

As he spoke to supporters in Midwood, Sanders had Republican frontrunner Donald Trump on his mind.

"What we can do to end a campaign finance system which is corrupt; which allows billionaires to buy elections – unacceptable to me," Sanders said.

In a Twitter post, New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) said he hoped to confront Sanders Friday in Brooklyn on his statements about "Israel killing 10,000 innocent Palestinians."

Sanders made the comment to the New York Daily News editorial board about the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. However, Sanders was off on the number as nearly 2,300 Palestinians were killed and another 10,000 wounded.

His campaign said in a statement Thursday that Sanders' position was "distorted."

"The idea that Sen. Sanders stated definitely that 10,000 Palestinians were killed is just not accurate and a distortion of that discussion," Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said.

Briggs added that there is "no candidate for president who will be a stronger supporter of Israel's right to exist in freedom, peace and security."

Also Friday, Sanders revealed that he has been invited to the Vatican for a papal conference next week. Sanders says he plans to speak on social, economic and environmental issues at a conference held by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He says he plans to travel shortly after his planned debate next Thursday with Clinton in Brooklyn.

For her part, Clinton spent the day upstate in Buffalo and Rochester.

COMPLETE CAMPAIGN 2016 COVERAGE

She talked about the work she did as a U.S. senator to bring jobs to the area.

"We dreamed a lot of dreams together about what we could do; how we could build on all of these foundational strengths," Clinton said.

Earlier Friday, Sanders backed away from an earlier suggestion that Clinton isn't qualified to be president.

Appearing in nationally broadcast interviews, Sanders defended speaking out harshly against Clinton, saying "we've got to fight back'' against statements that she's made. But when asked whether she was qualified for the White House, Sanders said "of course'' and that Clinton "on her worst day'' would still be "an infinitely better candidate'' than anyone on the Republican side.

Clinton made similar remarks Friday, saying Sanders would be a better president than anyone in the GOP. She shrugged off his recent criticisms, noting "people say lots of things'' on the campaign.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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