Sanders pledges to take campaign to conservative strongholds

[n2doc]

DENISON, Ia. – The Democratic Party needs a 50-state strategy that's focused on winning back conservative voters in rural America and Tea Party strongholds, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Friday.

"We are going to go to rural areas. We are going to go to conservative areas," he said. "We are going to take on the Tea Party."

But Sanders — an independent — came under question Friday for his ability to unite the Democratic party.

Jason Winters, 28, of Sibley, said he's worried about building up the party in rural Iowa, where he said it's difficult to get progressives elected to statewide and local offices. Winters, who works as an organizer for the National Education Association in South Dakota, asked Sanders about his plans for uniting the party at an event in Sheldon on Friday morning.

Sanders responded by touting a track record of engaging voters. During a run for mayor of Burlington, Vt., he said he doubled voter turnout by making local government relevant to working-class citizens. Sanders said he's committed to building the Democratic party, even in very conservative states.

"If you claim to be the party of the working people — if that's what the Democrats are supposed to be, in the legacy of F.D.R., even Harry Truman — how do you abandon the poorest states in America and not talk to those people?" Sanders said to a crowd in Sheldon. "How are you not running strong candidates, putting money into those areas?"
more

more
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/07/03/bernie-sanders-unite-democrats-presidential-campaign/29682335/

[daleanime]

1. K&R.....

[SusanCalvin]

2. Come to Texas!

We're not all nuts!

[Robbins]

3. Yep.also come to Missouri

we're not all republicans or McCaskill dems.

[blackspade]

4. Hope to see him here in KY.

If he pulls a crowd in Pike County or Union County he will clobber the GOP.

[SusanCalvin]

14. Sounds like a good test case. nt

[fbc]

5. He has the time to do it because he's not spending time at billionaire fundraisers

[Ed Suspicious]

6. He is the greatest politician I've ever seen.

[Lucky Luciano]

7. I would love to see him take on the conservative areas.

It could make things very interesting. HRC will feel like she is wasting money talking to the rednecks, but I bet Bernie could get through to them by talking common sense.

Common Sense II - the Sequel by Bernie Sanders


All that being said, I would love it if HRC would throw some of her money at taking on the hardcore conservatives too. It is just more authentic doing stuff like that.

[2banon]

9. Authenticity. Yes, something she doesn't seem to possess. n/t

[2banon]

8. "how do you abandon the poorest states in America and not talk to those people?"

If you claim to be the party of the working people — if that's what the Democrats are supposed to be, in the legacy of F.D.R., even Harry Truman — how do you abandon the poorest states in America and not talk to those people?" Sanders said to a crowd in Sheldon. "How are you not running strong candidates, putting money into those areas?

Note to DNC: DUH! GET A CLUE! TUNE IN TO BERNIE!

[LuvNewcastle]

10. I suspect he would do better in conservative

areas than people might think. One common trait among rural, more conservative people is that they like no-nonsense candidates. Bernie will tell you what he really thinks about an issue, not necessarily what you want to hear. People are starved for a politician like that. They like to know where a politician stands on issues. They don't expect to agree with them on everything, and they know when they're being pandered to.

[SusanCalvin]

15. Yep. nt

[hifiguy]

24. I think you are right.

Bernie doesn't speak politicalese.

[aspirant]

11. Bernie knows D.C.

If the DNC wouldn't pursue the 50 state strategy, here comes Bernie to fill the void. He knows the importance of retaking Congress so these conservative LABOR votes will not only add to his totals but turn red seats blue..

This is becoming a very wise tactical campaign that is not being sidelined by smears.

We must do our part.

[SusanCalvin]

16. The 50-state strategy was working.

Makes one wonder why it was abandoned.

[bonniebgood]

12. It about damn time someone talk to 'those people' besides

rush limbo and shawn hanity bill oreally. Thanks Bernie.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. I can hear Debbie now giggling that it's a waste of money.

[SusanCalvin]

17. Waste of the billionaires' money.

Sigh.... I can't even post a one-liner without a typo.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. Blame beer....

It's ALWAYS forgiven.

[SusanCalvin]

19. .

[rhett o rick]

20. k & r. Thanks for posting. nm

[TBF]

21. He can get the Reagan dems back -

and we need them. They have been voting against their own economic interests while fed on fear. I think Bernie's very direct economic messages can get through to them.

[riversedge]

22. Well, he was in Rochester MN--a very consevative city

I used to live there many moons ago but still have friends there.


good for Bernie.



http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/02/bernie-sanders



Sanders hammers GOP on inequality during MN speech

Catharine Richert · Rochester, Minn. · Jul 2, 2015


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders addressed a crowd of about 450 people during a morning stop in Rochester, Minn., Thursday, July 2, 2015. Jim Mone | AP

Listen Story audio
2min 55sec

Updated 1:45 p.m. | Posted 5:44 a.m.

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders railed against the nation's income gaps on Thursday, telling a Minnesota crowd that inequality would worsen under the GOP.

"This country is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. But most of our people don't know that. And they don't know that because almost all of that wealth is centered in the hands of a very few people, and that's got to change," he told more than 450 people during a morning stop in Rochester, Minn.

[pa28]

23. We've ignored our own constituencies in these places for so long they've become Republican.

The people are told we're arrogant, out-of-touch elitists who don't care about their needs. And you know what? They're right.

It will be interesting if Bernie can take his message into conservative areas and get a positive response. He wins big majorities in the red areas of his own state. Let's see if he can do it in Iowa.