Bernie Sanders Drawing Huge Crowds and Contrasts With Clinton

By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News

28 January 16

ith less than a week to the Iowa Caucus, Bernie Sanders continues to draw huge crowds. On Sunday, he drew a boisterous audience of 2,200 to a gym at Luther College in Deborah, Iowa, whose population is just over 8,000. Bernie also drew 2,000 Monday in Ames, Iowa. These are among the biggest crowds that any candidate has drawn this year in Iowa.

Sanders is also sharpening his message, drawing the contrast between himself and Hillary Clinton.

“Everyone in this room understands what these disastrous trade agreements are all about. They were written by corporate America to benefit corporate America, people who could care less about working families,” Sanders said at the United Steelworkers of America Local 310L Union Hall. “The simple truth is, and it’s indisputable, these trade agreements have been a disaster for working families in this country and they have benefited the CEOs of major corporations.”

Sanders is calling the vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq the most significant foreign policy blunder in a long time, and his vote against it shows judgement that Hillary Clinton lacked when she voted for it.

On the issue of Wall Street, Sanders fought against deregulation, and he supports reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act, which would prevent banks from getting too big. Hillary Clinton opposes reinstating Glass-Steagall.

Sanders pointed out that he opposed the Keystone Pipeline and the Trans-Pacific Partnership on day one, while it took a long time for Hillary Clinton to oppose both.

Sanders will spend most of this week in Iowa, with a brief detour to Minnesota, which has a caucus on March 1st.

Sanders also responded to Bill Clinton, who has been saying that Bernie is angry. Bernie agreed, saying he is angry and so are the American people. Bernie then listed some of the reasons: income inequality, lack of affordable healthcare, and student debt.

The Clinton campaign in recent days has been trying to claim that Bernie is saying he has influenced the stock market. But as you can see in the video above, it was a Wall Street CEO who made the claim, and Bernie was just happy that his campaign was making that CEO nervous.

While the “America” ad was thought to be Bernie’s closing ad in Iowa, there is now a new ad in Iowa, “American Horizon,” that lays out his vision.

“There are those who say we cannot defeat a corrupt political system and fix a rigged economy. But I believe we need to lift our vision above the obstacles in place – and look to the American horizon,” he says,. “To a nation where every child can not only dream of going to college – but attend one. Where quality health care will be a birthright of every citizen. Where a good job is not a wish but a reality. Where women receive equal pay and a living wage is paid to all. An America where after a lifetime of labor there is time for rest and grandchildren. A nation that defends our people and our values but no longer carries so much of that burden alone.”

Sanders also reminded voters in his closing stump speech that the Clinton campaign is nervous. They are saying the same things they said about Barack Obama in 2008, that his ideas are pie in the sky. Sanders pointed out that it didn’t work in Iowa in 2008, and it won’t work this time either.

With less than a week to go in Iowa, the polls are showing it’s a close race. Hillary’s base, the Democratic Party establishment, will show up for the caucus, but Hillary needs low voter-turnout overall. Bernie’s biggest strength is first-time caucus-goers. If they show up at 7 p.m. next Monday, he will be tough to beat. 

If you look at the crowds Bernie has been drawing, you have to conclude they will show up Monday. Going to a Sanders rally and standing in long lines to get in, and then chanting through an hour and a half speech, shows commitment. Like Bernie has said in the past, I have a good feeling about Iowa.

Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.