Bernie Sanders returns home to reset his presidential bid for 2020

MONTPELIER – Three months after the official announcement of a candidacy for the 2020 presidential election at his birthplace in Brooklyn, US Senator Bernie Sanders visited Saturday in his home state of New York. Originally, Vermont, for a rally in the planned capital as a refueling stop for morale leading into its democratic primary race.

"At this crucial and unprecedented moment in American history, I am here today to ask for your support," he told a surprisingly disappointing crowd of several thousand supporters at the time. 39, an event at Statehouse that, according to campaign and city officials, would attract a wider audience. 3000 to 5000 people.

Sanders, who shocked many with a strong primary in 2016 against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, had already surpassed the 2020 polls just a month ago. Former Vice President Joe Biden had already taken off since April 25th.

Sanders, who is now in second place, is 17 points behind Biden in RealClearPolitics.com's last average of leading polls from coast to coast. But the Vermonter is only 4 points behind Iowa and 13 points behind New Hampshire.

Sanders used his Montpelier rally – broadcast live on several national news platforms of what ABC News has called "the smallest state capital in terms of population", to illustrate his four-decade political career and "his impact on Vermont ".

The long-time Socialist, 77, upset the political establishment in 1981 when he won the first of four Burlington Mayor mandates by 10 votes.

"I do not think this revolution will happen overnight," said the newly elected leader in archival footage, which was merged into a campaign announcement unveiled this weekend. "But I think it's important that in Burlington, Vermont, everywhere in the country, workers and people interested in true democracy are starting to talk about these ideas."

Sanders has become the longest-serving independent congressman since being elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 and the Senate in 2006.

"Allow me to thank the people of the state of Vermont who have offered me an opportunity I would never have dreamed of when I was a child, there is a million people there. years, "he told the crowd. "It was the honor of my life."

Sanders then replayed his biggest speeches successes, inviting the multinationals and the military-industrial complex to shame, and applauding and applauding the progressive proposals for the workers.

The candidate has also responded to recent calls from critics to apologize for condemning the US armed conflict with Iranian forces in the Middle East.

"Young man, with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others, marched against the war in Vietnam," he said. "As a member of the House of Representatives, I helped to lead the opposition to the war in Iraq. I did not believe Dick Cheney, nor John Bolton, nor President (George W.) Bush, and others when they told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and we had to invade that country. "

"Finally, at the moment, I am doing everything I can to prevent Donald Trump and John Bolton from dragging us into a war in Iran," he said. "And I do not apologize."

Sanders officially launched his first presidential campaign almost exactly four years ago in Burlington, where national media outlets preparing for Clinton's coronation were surprised to see about 5,000 people cheering on a Vermont citizen whose polling percentage could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Since then, Sanders has become a political actor with the "radical" ideas he has advanced in 2016 – living wage, free university and health care for all – now defended by a majority of Democratic candidates.

A series of warm-up speakers saluted Sanders' vision.

"You remember where you come from, it matters," Vermont US representative Peter Welch told the crowd gathered in Montpellier. "We do not have anyone in the White House (referring to President Donald Trump) who can remember who his friend was, let alone who was his wife the other day."

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry: "Ice cream is good, but a president of the United States who really believes in justice in all its forms? It's euphoric. "

Many Montpellier residents were unaware of what Saturday's program would serve, a rain forecast, flashing signs signaling the "Statehouse / Expect Delays" warning, and indicating that locals were shopping early, such as if the capital was about to be hit by a storm.

Although several city officials and the press estimated the crowd to be more than 1,000 supporters instead of the anticipated 3,000 to 5,000, the Sanders campaign said that "the number of our spectators today was closer to 3 000. "

Regardless of the number, participants had enough space to unfold their picnic blankets on the sunny lawn while the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter was performing in the first part.

"There would be no more farmers here if we did not have that good day of the week," said introductory speaker Jenny Nelson, herself a former Sanders employee. "It does not matter if it's the Memorial Day weekend. These fields must be planted, the cows must be milked. "

Despite this, enough police and emergency medical services from Montpelier got up for the capital to add costs and demand reimbursement for the Sanders campaign.

(The demand has a precedent: Brooklyn College has charged $ 70,000 for organizing this year's mailout.)

The event in Montpellier was just one of many campaigns this month, following visits to six communities in Iowa and four southern states. Sanders will travel to New Hampshire for a series of ice cream Monday meetings and public speeches Tuesday at Concord, Londonderry and Manchester, then fly west to Nevada's advance-polling states on Wednesday and Thursday and California next weekend.

Launched for the second time, the Sanders campaign is a well-oiled machine that has so far surpassed its rivals by raising more than $ 20 million. But he is about to complete his online solicitations with new "fundraising and grassroots fundraising" events offering tickets ranging from $ 27 to $ 2,800.

"We are facing a dilemma," campaign director Faiz Shakir said in an email to his supporters. "We always have more individual gifts than anyone. By many But the truth is that our average contribution is steadily declining. "

The average contribution of the campaign, from $ 27 in 2016, has fallen to about $ 16. This means that Sanders must collect 175 donations corresponding to a maximum contribution of $ 2,800 received by a competitor.

"Bernie is very proud of the way we are funding this campaign," Shakir continued in his e-mail. "In fact, he is delighted that our average donation is lower than in 2016. This means that it's really a grassroots campaign built by a record number of people who make money." modest donations. "

At the same time, Sanders is trying to spread his message in a meaningful way. Saturday's rally closed the street in front of the Statehouse for satellite TV trucks and reserved a series of risers blocking the view in front of the stage to national reporters.

"One thing that many Democrats can agree on is that Sanders changed the game book and attributed the merit to it," wrote Roll Call, Washington DC editor, about progressive anti-establishment politician. "But now that the stakes are more important than ever and the game has changed, Sanders can maintain the excitement of its millennial base and broaden its appeal while competing with a number of double-digit candidates that are more important than ever." he was not in 2016? "

The answer: "Nobody knows what will happen in 2020," said New York Magazine in its latest title.

"This campaign is a marathon, not a sprint," RealClearPolitics adds, "and with more than 20 serious Democratic candidates coming forward, it's likely that there will be more twists before the end of the election season."

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

People cheer as Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Wheelock's Steve Amos presented a selection of buttons before Bernie Sanders' first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

People cheer as Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Kevin O'Brien said he spent three and a half hours in Massena, NY, to attend Bernie Sanders' first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo of Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Bernie Sanders fans waved an American flag at Sanders' first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

<data-attachment-id = "277987" data-orig-file = "https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE9.jpg" data-orig-size = "2000,1496 "data-comments-opening =" 1 "data-image-meta =" {"opening": "5.6", "credit": "GLENN RUSSELL", "camera": "NIKON Z 6", "caption": " People cheer as Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger "," created_timestamp ":" 1558797361 "," copyright "GLENN RUSSELL", "focal_length": "20", "iso": "250", "shutter_speed": "0.002", "title": "20190525BERNIE9", "orientation": "1"} "data -image-title = "Bernie Sanders" data-image-description = "

People cheer as Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

"data-medium-file =" https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE9.jpg?fit=300%2C224&ssl=1 "data-large-file = "https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE9.jpg?fit=610%2C456&ssl=1" src = "https://i0.wp.com/ vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE9.jpg?w=298&h=223&ssl=1 "width =" 298 "height =" 223 "data-original-width =" 298 "data-original-height = "223" itemprop = "http://schema.org/image" title = "Bernie Sanders" alt = "Bernie Sanders" style = "width: 298px; height: 223px; "/>

People cheer as Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Kelley Tutless of Marlboro presents signs at the first rally of Bernie Sanders as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Steve Kind of Leeds, England, visiting his son's home in Williston, is examined by security at Bernie Sanders' first rally as Vermont presidential candidate in Montpellier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Bernie Sanders intervient lors de son premier rassemblement en tant que candidat à la présidence du Vermont, à Montpellier, le samedi 25 mai 2019. Photo de Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Bernie Sanders et Jane O’Meara Sanders quittent le premier rassemblement de Sanders en tant que candidat à la présidence du Vermont, à Montpellier, le samedi 25 mai 2019. Photo de Glenn Russell / VTDigger

Un manifestant brandit une pancarte anti-Trump alors que Bernie Sanders prend la parole lors de son premier rassemblement en tant que candidat à la présidence du Vermont à Montpellier, le samedi 25 mai 2019. Photo de Glenn Russell / VTDigger

<img data-attachment-id = "277982" data-orig-file = "https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525CARLILE.jpg" data-orig-size = "2000,1314 "data-comments-opening =" 1 "data-image-meta =" {"ouverture": "2.8", "crédit": "GLENN RUSSELL", "appareil photo": "NIKON D750", "caption": "Brandi Carlile effectue à Bernie Sanders u0027 premier rassemblement en tant que candidat à la présidence du Vermont à Montpellier le samedi 25 mai 2019. Photo de Glenn Russell / VTDigger "," created_timestamp ":" 1558793148 "," copyright ":" GLENN RUSSELL "," focal_length ":" 200 "," iso ":" 200 "," shutter_speed ":" 0.0004 "," title ":" 20190525CARLILE "," orientation ":" 1 "}" data-image-title = " Brandi Carlile "data-image-description ="

Brandi Carlile joue lors du premier rassemblement de Bernie Sanders en tant que candidate à la présidence du Vermont à Montpellier, le samedi 25 mai 2019. Photo de Glenn Russell / VTDigger

"data-medium-file =" https://i1.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525CARLILE.jpg?fit=300%2C197&ssl=1 "data-large-file = "https://i1.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525CARLILE.jpg?fit=610%2C401&ssl=1" src = "https://i1.wp.com/ vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525CARLILE.jpg?w=208&h=137&ssl=1 "width =" 208 "height =" 137 "data-original-width =" 208 "data-original-height = "137" itemprop = "http://schema.org/image" title = "Brandi Carlile" alt = "Brandi Carlile" style = "width: 208px; hauteur: 137px; "/>

Brandi Carlile performs at Bernie Sanders’ first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

<img data-attachment-id="277980" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE3.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1335" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"GLENN RUSSELL","camera":"NIKON D750","caption":"Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger","created_timestamp":"1558797918","copyright":"GLENN RUSSELL","focal_length":"300","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.000625","title":"20190525BERNIE3","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Bernie Sanders" data-image-description="

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE3.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE3.jpg?fit=610%2C407&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE3.jpg?w=211&h=140&ssl=1" width="211" height="140" data-original-width="211" data-original-height="140" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Bernie Sanders" alt="Bernie Sanders" style="width: 211px; height: 140px;"/>

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

<img data-attachment-id="277974" data-orig-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1343" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"GLENN RUSSELL","camera":"NIKON D750","caption":"Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger","created_timestamp":"1558798695","copyright":"GLENN RUSSELL","focal_length":"300","iso":"140","shutter_speed":"0.00025","title":"20190525BERNIE","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Bernie Sanders" data-image-description="

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE.jpg?fit=300%2C201&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE.jpg?fit=610%2C410&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190525BERNIE.jpg?w=153&h=102&ssl=1" width="153" height="102" data-original-width="153" data-original-height="102" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Bernie Sanders" alt="Bernie Sanders” style=”width: 153px; height: 102px;”/>

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Bernie Sanders speaks at his first rally as a candidate for president in Vermont in Montpelier on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger