Sen. Bernie Sanders promised he was going to have a civil debate on the issues and not take personal shots at his opponents when he first entered the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. He made good on that promise once again during an interview this Sunday on CNN's State of the Union.

Here's how he responded after repeated demands from guest host Brianna Keilar that Sanders throw some "sharp elbows" at Clinton: Sanders: 'I like Hillary Clinton':

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that Hillary Clinton's campaign will outspend him in pursuing the Democratic presidential nomination, but declined to directly criticize her on main issues.

"I like Hillary Clinton. I respect Hillary Clinton," Sanders said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"Will the media, among others, allow us to have a civil debate on civil issues? Or is the only way you're going to get media attention by ripping apart somebody else?" Sanders asked. "I certainly hope that's not the case."

Sanders, who has previously acknowledged that he may be outspent but has shied away from naming Clinton in that regard, said his campaign has raised more than $4 million since it launched April 30. [...]

Sanders said Sunday that he has "led the effort in taking on Wall Street" and on a number of progressive issues, such as opposing trade deals currently being negotiated by the U.S. and being debated in Congress.

"I believe there is more discontentment with establishment politics, with the greed of corporate America, than many people perceive," Sanders said when asked about his role in the 2016 presidential race.

Asked if he was courting those who hoped to goad Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) into the presidential race to challenge Clinton from the left, Sanders said, "I think on many of the same issues, Elizabeth Warren and I come out on the same page."