Behind the Clinton scenes

There was a lot at stake in yesterday's New York Democratic presidential primary contest: 247 delegates, as well as the all-important momentum. As the race winds down, can Brooklyn-born Bernie Sanders keep New York's former Senator Hillary Clinton scrambling to stay on top, even deny her a convention victory?

In the thick of it is Clinton's travelling press secretary Nick Merrill, a 2005 Skidmore government major, who cut his teeth in Clinton's 2008 presidential bid and stayed with her as a policy analyst when she was Secretary of State.

Soon after Clinton appeared Sunday on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, it fell to Merrill to announce that the candidate "supports the efforts by Senator Schumer and his colleagues in the Senate to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terrorist acts to hold accountable those responsible. As president, she would work with Congress to this end."

Also this Sunday, in response to calls for her to pay more tax in line with her pledge to increase taxes on America's wealthiest 0.01%, Merrill told Breitbart News Network: "Sure thing, as soon as the RNC agrees to implement all of the rest of Secretary Clinton's plans, including expanding the ACA, making college affordable, raising the minimum wage, closing corporate loopholes, passing paid leave, helping to achieve equal pay for women, holding gun manufacturers accountable, just to name a few things."

Donald Trump doesn't believe it, but Merrill has also affirmed that wherever she goes, Clinton carries hot sauce—Ninja Squirrel, a sriracha—as well as chili flakes and jalapeños. And to cool the hot? Victory Mac Daddy, of course: Merrill says the double-chocolate waffle packed with crushed Oreos, and with chocolate ice cream, chocolate chips, and chocolate-covered marshmallows, all covered in chocolate whipped cream and topped with a chocolate-covered cherry, satisfies the hunger she works up fighting her opponents.

For more on Merrill's career and background, see his Creative Thought Works profile or follow him on Twitter.