Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper waits as he is introduced before speaking during a media availability at the National Press Club, Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Hickenlooper on Thursday attacked rival Bernie Sanders' vision of an America remade under democratic socialism and chastised others in the 2020 race for not repudiating that political philosophy.

The former Colorado governor said Sanders was "wrong" to call for policies such as "Medicare for All" that would dramatically increase public spending and government involvement in Americans' daily lives. Hickenlooper called for less expansive changes to the "regulated capitalism that has guided this country for over 200 years."

"The Democratic field has not only failed to oppose Sen. Sanders' agenda, but they have actually pushed to embrace it," Hickenlooper said at the National Press Club.

Hickenlooper's campaign has struggled to gain traction and he ranks toward the bottom in public opinion polls among the large field of candidates. But recently he has drawn attention for railing against socialism, perhaps most notably during the recent California Democratic convention, where he was booed loudly for deriding the idea.

"Democrats must say loudly and clearly that we are not socialists. If we do not, we will end up helping to reelect the worst president in the country's history," he said in Washington. "Socialism is the most efficient attack line Republicans can use against Democrats as long as (President Donald) Trump is at the top of the ticket."

His remarks followed Sanders' impassioned defence of his democratic socialism philosophy Wednesday, when he called on progressives to ignore "massive attacks from those who attempt to use the word 'socialism' as a slur."

On Thursday, Sanders responded by tweeting out a video clip of Franklin Delano Roosevelt mocking those who opposed his New Deal policies, like the Social Security Act, while professing to support similar ideas. It was a clear jab at current-day centrists in the Democratic Party, like Hickenlooper, who say they support progressive goals but reject the wholesale changes for which Sanders calls.

Hickenlooper contrasted himself with Sanders, who has vilified corporations for having outsize influence, and said government was most effective when working with the private sector and nonprofits.

He advocated domestic policies that would avoid the large costs associated with some of the ideas Sanders supports, including the Green New Deal and free college.

"Each candidate, I think, has a responsibility — however they want to do it — to draw that line and say, 'Hey, I'm not a socialist,'" Hickenlooper said. "Not all the candidates like it when I say that."

News from © The Associated Press, 2019