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Bernie Sanders in Palm Springs, surprises crowd downtown (+video link)
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders showed up unannounced in Palm Springs Thursday night, arriving without much notice but delighting supporters and others who suddenly spotted him mingling in downtown.
Kamber Fishbein, a 19-year-old Sanders supporter, was visiting from Los Angeles with her friends and mother when they heard Sanders was at VillageFest, the Thursday night street fair that features arts and crafts.
Fishbein and others rushed through the crowd until they found the candidate, surrounded by security guards, shaking hands and taking photos.
“We ran and we caught up to him,” Fishbein said. “We got a security guard to take the photo – he seemed mad – but he still took it.”
Numerous photos lit up Twitter Thursday night showing the presidential hopeful in Palm Springs, posing for pictures with people during VillageFest along Palm Canyon Drive.
Photos of Sanders, dressed in casual attire, began popping up on social media at about 9 p.m.
Those who saw Sanders said that besides enjoying the Palm Springs VillageFest, the Vermont senator also dined at Las Casuelas Terraza on Palm Canyon.
Restaurant manager Eric Navarro said Sanders' security detail arrived mid-afternoon.
"The Secret Service got here around 3, it caught us by surprise. They said a presidential candidate was coming. We showed them around the restaurant and prepared two tables, one inside and one outside and he chose the one inside," Navarro said.
"As soon as he came in people were like, 'Bernie! Bernie! Take a picture!' He walked through the whole restaurant and waved to everybody ... He was real polite to people, taking pictures. It was awesome," Navarro said.
He sat with five other people at his table and there were about six to eight secret service members with him.
Sanders' order: Pork fajitas. Hold the spice.
The restaurant staff didn't talk to him while he ate, but once Sanders went to the street fair he was "free to the people," Navarro said.
Busboy Eric Bloom described the candidate as "very down to earth, just a normal guy keeping to himself."
"I'm a huge Bernie supporter. I was extremely excited and taken aback, like 'No, you're joking,' " Bloom said.
Sherry and Cary Harwin of Yucca Valley ate dinner Thursday at the same restaurant, but sat in the back and discovered too late the senator's appearance.
"We missed him!" an incredulous Cary said a couple blocks away.
The couple acknowledged that Sanders probably won't win the nomination but were pleased nonetheless that he's stayed in the race so long, in an attempt to show the nation's leaders how a politician should speak.
"I'm hoping at some point he helps put the party back together," Sherry said.
Malgosia Nowakowski was tending to customers shopping at her pottery booth when suddenly she looked up and saw Sanders and his wife.
"I was surprised, because I didn't know he'd be here," Nowakowski said.
The artist said Sanders kept a low profile and easily blended in with the crowd.
"I don't think anyone recognized him until he passed our booth and then everyone was taking selfies," she added.
(videos at link)
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/05/20/reports-bernie-sanders-palm-springs/84640620/
11 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
... I think I love you. 
I so appreciate your Bernie OPs, keeping us up on his speeches and that top photo is great! Bernie is a man of the people, as observed in this article about him mingling in Palm Springs, CA. You're the greatest!
Go Bernie!
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/duforbernie
"Wait a minute? No rallies? OMG!! Where in the hay is Bernie??? 
I'm looking forward to him returning next year on vacation...........as President Sanders!
