Bernie Sanders to 7,000 in Phoenix: 'Ready for a political revolution?'
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders rallied more than 7,000 people Tuesday at the Phoenix Convention Center even as he faced big losses to rival contender Hillary Clinton in crucial primaries across the country.
Despite the setbacks, Sanders energetically addressed the crowd, his voice hoarse, drawing roaring cheers. He did not acknowledge the election results.
"Phoenix, are you ready for a political revolution? Are you tired of a handful of billionaires running our economy?" he asked. "Well, if you are, you’ve come to the right place!"
The independent U.S. senator from Vermont was holding the event as media outlets projected Clinton, a former secretary of state, to win Florida, North Carolina and Ohio. The outcomes in Missouri and Illinois, by the end of his nearly hourlong speech, were not yet determined.
Sanders had been hoping to cut into the significant delegate lead Clinton holds. Arizona, which holds its presidential primary March 22, can help, he said.
"Next week, Arizona has a very important election," Sanders said. "We will win if the voter turnout is high. Let's make it high!"
Immigration and Latino issues were a focus of the speech.
"This campaign is listening to the Latino community. What the Latino community is telling me is they are tired of living in the shadows. They are tired of living in fear and being exploited," Sanders said. "They want — I want — comprehensive immigration reform."
Sanders said Congress should give the country's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. And if it did not act, he as president would take executive action on immigration.
He said children like 15-year-old Katherine Figueroa, who introduced Sanders before the rally, should not endure family deportations.
Figueroa, one of several Latino, African-American and gay supporters who spoke at the rally, said her parents had been detained by immigration officials for months, leaving her under the care of her aunt.
"I am one of millions of kids that are left behind... We want deportations to stop completely," she said. "I truly believe that Bernie is going to bring the change and that he is going to make our future even better. ... He is our future president."
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Sanders said immigration reform would "unite families not divide them."
The Clinton campaign has criticized Sanders for opposing a 2007 bipartisan compromise on immigration reform, but he subsequently voted for a 2013 bill.
One of the most deafening cheers came next, when Sanders criticized Republican front-runner Donald Trump for insulting groups, including immigrants.
"In our country, not everybody agrees. ... What is not acceptable ... is to throw racist attacks against Mexicans," Sanders said. "The reason that Donald Trump will never be elected president is the American people will not accept insults to Mexicans and women. The American people will not accept a president who insults our veterans."
Sanders said voters should not "settle."
"You do not have to accept the status quo. We can do better," he said.
Attacking Clinton as part of a "corrupt" campaign-finance system and "rigged economy," Sanders pointed out she was supported by a well-funded super PAC, had accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars for speeches on Wall Street and had voted for the Iraq war.
Lillian James, 18, of Gilbert, said Sanders’ campaign rally solidified her belief in him as an “authentic” presidential candidate.
“He is consistent with his policies,” she said. “And he’s always working for the little guy.”
In her view, Sanders has shined the light on important issues: “Look at the room! It’s alive with diverse people, not just the normal demographic you see. Regardless, if Bernie doesn’t get on that ballot, we’re not going to stop. When he says, 'Start a revolution,' stuff doesn’t happen overnight. He’s telling us the truth. He’s showing us what we need to see and we’re becoming a bit more educated.”
Samantha Shank, 49, a disabled veteran from Tempe, thought Sanders’ message was “fabulous,” and she credited him for his consistent stance on issues at a time when politicians frequently flip-flop.
Despite his losses Tuesday, she remains convinced Sanders could still secure the Democratic nomination for president.
“More people are listening and they’re hearing and they’re seeing what his opponent is doing – which is being untruthful,” she said, speaking of Clinton.
Terrell Tarver, 52, said he loves what Sanders stands for.
“But the way things are now, Hillary is going to win,” the Tempe resident said.
He said Sanders’ messages on Social Security, health care and the minimum wage have earned his vote on March 22.
“Nobody can make it on 7, 8 dollars an hour – even 12 dollars an hour is hard,” Tarver said. “And we’ve got too much greed with corporations that are running everything.”
Even if Sanders doesn’t secure the nomination, he said, the Vermont senator has raised awareness about important issues: “He’s making people see things in a new way.”
He said he hoped Clinton would pick Sanders as her vice-presidential candidate.
Brandon Mason, 31, a software engineer from Scottsdale, was familiar with Sanders’ message.
“It’s pretty much on point with what I want to hear and what I think a lot of Americans want to hear,” he said, adding that in his opinion, Sanders is the only presidential candidate doing so.
Mason said Sanders’ messages on climate change, social issues and immigration should not be ignored.
“I agree categorically with everything he said, and I’m not a person that would just say that,” he said.
Jose Silva, 28, a software sales executive, left work early to see Sanders. He waited five hours to hear him and afterward said he’s the most qualified person in the presidential field.
“You have liars on one end and a circus on the other,” Silva said.
He agreed with Sanders that health care and education are natural human rights.
If Sanders doesn’t get the necessary delegates to win the nomination, Silva said, “at this point, I would probably vote Hillary Clinton – I’d rather see her in office than Donald Trump -- not that she’s the perfect candidate, but that’s who I would settle for.”
Erika Andiola, a Sanders campaign spokeswoman, said Sanders had proven wrong the pundits who said he didn't have a chance.
"They cannot tell us any longer that we have to continue to go with the flow, to go with the establishment," she said.
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The crowd was dominated by young people, a generation that has flocked to Sanders, but it included parents toting children and baby-boomers. Many were wearing “Feel the Bern! 2016” T-shirts and pins featuring illustrations of his signature white hair and glasses.
Songs like Bob Marley’s “Revolution” and Muse’s “Uprising” blared before the rally.
Lizete Garnica, 27, said she was so inspired by Sanders’ campaign that she brought her 9-year-old son, who was on spring break, to hear Sanders speak.
“I’m here because I want to hear my next president speak,” she said. “There’s so many of us that couldn’t make it today. He has people everywhere, young people, old people, he has all kinds of people behind him and he’s going to make it.”
“He speaks the truth, he tells it like it is, (but he does it) without hate."
Hailey Vincent, 24, said she hoped Sanders addressed the violence that has marred recent rallies for Trump.
"I've seen videos of what's been going on — people getting hit, people getting pepper-sprayed," she said. "Everything that's been going on goes against everything that America's supposed to stand for."
Vincent said she also hoped Sanders would spend some time talking about illegal immigration.
"I just want him to express the plan he has, as opposed to just putting a giant wall up. I want him to refute everything Donald Trump has to say about it," she said.
Robert Barton, a real-estate developer, said he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hear Sanders speak on his home turf.
"I’m hoping to get hold of a microphone and ask him a couple of questions,” said Barton, 61, adding that he particularly liked Sanders’ message on the minimum wage and health care. "I love his stance and the way he has had the same goals and aspirations for forever.”
Is Arizona still Hillary Clinton country?
Clinton still leads Sanders in the few Arizona polls that have been released.
Her campaign has ramped up its efforts in the state in recent weeks, holding events with women supporters, the LGBT community and celebrities like Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan.
She also released a Spanish-language television ad ahead of Sanders' rally, touting her support for immigration reform, children’s health care and affordable college. The ad opens with images of Trump and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a controversial immigration hard-liner.
Sanders also was set to air more than $500,000 television ads in Arizona, according to federal filings.
Jane Sanders, his wife, has been touring Arizona. She sparred with Arpaio on a visit to Tent City on Monday.
She said the campaign may host rallies soon in Flagstaff and Tucson.
Jane Sanders, Bernie's wife, debates Arpaio about Tent City
