Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders visits with members of the crowd after his speech at the DECC on Tuesday, January 26. In attendance at the Future to Believe in rally were a number of Cook County residents.
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visited Minnesota on Tuesday, January 26, bringing his Future to Believe in rally to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). A number of Cook County residents—supporters and curious citizens—were among the approximately 6,000 people who attended the event.
The Sanders campaign got the energy going with the sound of Bruce Springsteen’s We Take Care of Our Own as the candidate entered the arena. U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, D-Minneapolis, and Minnesota Senator Becky Lourey introduced Sanders and encouraged the crowd to support Sanders, especially in the March 1, 2016 caucuses. Sanders, who converted from Independent to Democrat in 2015, spoke for about an hour on everything from increasing the federal minimum wage and paid family leave, single-payer healthcare and a women’s right to choose to criminal justice reform, war in the Middle East and global warming.
Dressed somewhat casually in a simple jacket and no tie, Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders made quite an impression on the crowd at the DECC on Tuesday, January 26 with his speech on a future to believe in.
The News-Herald reached out to some of the county residents who made the trek to the DECC, such as Marco Good of Grand Marais. Good, a self-avowed “Bernie Booster,” said the event was “fabulous.”
Asked if he was surprised by anything Sanders said, Good replied, “I’m always amazed by Bernie, by how he ties everything together. He always makes the point that the rich guys just keep getting richer and the poor guy gets poorer.”
Good said the only thing he would liked to have heard but didn’t was more on Native American issues, but overall Good said it was a great event.
Anton Moody of Grand Marais, chair of the Cook County DFL, another Sanders supporter said, “I’ve been a fan of his since I first started following politics more closely back in my early 20s and it’s great to see the momentum and response his campaign is garnering. It’s pretty exciting too, to hear a guy who has been involved and fighting for equality on so many levels for the past several decades continue to fight for the same things,” said Moody.
Sanders was first elected to the U.S. House in 1990 and then the U.S. Senate in 2006. Prior to serving in Congress he was mayor of Burlington, Vermont for eight years.
“Equal pay for women, paid family and medical leave for new parents, single payer healthcare for all, and Wall Street speculation reform. His message hasn’t changed based on who he’s running against,” said Moody.
Moody brought his two young children to the event. “Some guy at the rally told my son, who is six, how cool he thought it was that he and his sister were there. My son replied, ‘If you don’t take an interest in politics, politics won’t take an interest in you.’”
Apparently he is following in his dad’s footsteps, as Moody added, “Ultimately, I hope people get out and participate in the process. That’s what Bernie really wants. I hope people caucus on March 1st no matter who they support, because that’s the only way our system really works.”
Abby Tofte of Grand Marais was also in attendance and she said, “It was awesome. The energy was incredible.”
“He seemed genuinely shocked at the number of folks who showed up on a Tuesday afternoon to show their support. It was great, way to go Northern Minnesota!” said Tofte.
According to the Duluth News-Tribune, so far, with a little more than a month to go, opinion polls put Hillary Clinton ahead in Minnesota, one of several states that will hold caucuses or primaries on March 1, the so-called “Super Tuesday.” Minnesota’s delegates to the national Democratic convention will be decided based on the results of the straw poll at those caucuses in neighborhoods across the state.
Leave a Reply