Chomsky: Sanders Is the Best but Won't Win 'Bought Elections'

U.S. linguist, analyst, intellectual and writer Noam Chomsky has declared that “decent, honest” Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders would have the best policies if elected, even if he is not the socialist he purports to be.

"Bernie Sanders may call himself a socialist, but he's basically a New Dealer in the current American political system," Chomsky told Al Jazeera, explaining that a New Dealer means someone who is far out to the left of the field.

ANALYSIS: Bernie Sanders Now Needs to Focus on Black and Latino Voters

“Bernie Sanders is a decent, honest New Dealer,” he added. “I agree with him on a lot of things, and not in other things.”

But according to the revered academic, Sanders is unlikely to make it to the White House in the system of “bought elections.”

Despite his preference for Sanders, Chomsky stated that it was imperative for a Democrat to land the United States’ top job, as if a Republican won instead it could “have enormous consequences.”

RELATED: Sanders' Plan to Increase Taxes on Corporate Profits Would Boost Jobs

He emphasized that not voting at all could would have the same effect as voting for Republicans.

“Abstaining from voting is a vote for the Republican candidate. My vote would be against the Republican candidate in a swing state (and) I said the same thing with Obama,” he said.

WATCH: The Empire Files: Noam Chomsky & Abby Martin, Electing The President of an Empire