Bernie Sanders calls for ‘political revolution’ before crowd of thousands in Cloverdale

Nearly 6,000 North Coast residents cheered Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders in Cloverdale on Friday as the Vermont senator promised to revolutionize American politics, the U.S. economy and society at large.

Beside the tarmac of the city’s municipal airport on a sweltering night, Sanders supporters heard the populist politician roll out many of the standby pledges of his campaign, including a single-payer health care system, the expansion of Social Security, equal pay for women and comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

“We need a political revolution. We need millions of people from California to Maine to begin to stand up and fight back and demand a government that represents all of us, not just the 1 percent,” Sanders said to the boisterous crowd. “That is what this campaign is all about.”

Shortly before his speech, in an interview, Sanders said he chose to stage a rally in Cloverdale, Sonoma County’s northernmost outpost, with a population of 8,700, because of its rural location and his affinity for small communities.

“I come from a rural state,” he said. “I think it’s important for people from all across this state, all across this country, to hear from presidential candidates and you don’t have to live in major city to do so.”

During his speech, Sanders called the California primary election on Tuesday the most important contest in the country.

“Based on my experience, if there is a large voter turnout we will win,” he said. “If there is a very large turnout, we will win with a big margin.”

Sanders and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton are running neck-and-neck in the state, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll issued Thursday. But Clinton has won roughly 3 million more popular votes and is the clear leader in delegates, with 2,312, just 71 shy of the number needed to clinch the Democratic nomination. Sanders has 1,545 delegates, according to an Associated Press tally.

Sanders, in the interview, said he remains focused on winning California and said his first objective continues to be claiming the Democratic nomination for president. If not, he signaled he would not stand in Clinton’s way.

“Our goal is to win here in California on Tuesday. We think we’re going to win in a number of other states,” he said. But he added, “I will do everything I can, either as the candidate or if not the candidate, to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president.”

Minutes later, onstage under a setting sun, Sanders thanked the crowd for enduring the day’s heat, which peaked at 98 degrees in Cloverdale in late afternoon, when the earliest attendees began showing up at the airport. Paramedics had to be called into the crowd to treat at least one person who had become ill from the heat.

As expected from the crowds Sanders has drawn in two dozen rallies across California, young people were on hand in droves.

“I’m too young to vote but I was raised right to know who to support,” said Grace Holdredge, 13, of Healdsburg. She mentioned Sanders’ stands on women’s reproductive rights, his call for free college for all and his vocal opposition to Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Santa Rosa Councilman Gary Wysocky was among those in line for the rally. He rejected criticism leveled at Sanders that his continued presence in the Democratic race is hurting Clinton’s chances against Trump in November.

“I don’t believe that because he’s bringing more people to the polls and that’s what we need as a democracy,” said Wysocky.

Wysocky said he welcomed Sanders’ attention on climate change and the economic strain affecting the working and middle class.

“This is national politics, this is an historic election,” he said. “Sen. Sanders is addressing issues that need to be addressed.”

This will be 21-year-old Megan Pollock’s first presidential election and the Santa Rosa Junior College student said she valued Sanders’ “great ideas and great plans,” pointing to his call to make higher education more affordable.

“I’ve never felt as strongly about a candidate as I do about Bernie,” she said. “I know a lot of people who have decided against college because it’s so expensive.”

She also drew a sharp contrast between Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, and Clinton, a former secretary of state and New York senator who Pollack said was overly allied with special interests.

“At least from what I’ve seen, she doesn’t make up her own mind, it’s the corporations making it up for her,” she said.

Onnivin Pelzel, 20, of Kelseyville came with friends from Lake County to rally for Sanders. Pelzel, who plans to go to vocational school for massage therapy, said he favors Sanders’ plans to subsidize college tuition and his tax plan, which he said valued a more equitable economy.

“He’s the only candidate that has a tax plan that supports his programs and projects,” Pelzel said. “He wants to move us toward a financially cooperative society rather than a dog-eat-dog sort of capitalism.”

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.