Senator Bernie Sanders is in the Bay Area today, and a rally for his supporters kicked off at noon at Richmond's Craneway Pavilion.
Hundreds were lined up outside the venue Monday morning, waiting to get into the event, as KPIX reports. And ABC 7 reports that it "looks like a packed house."
Sanders fans are optimistic after his strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. As one attendee, Nicole Gomes, tells KPIX, "I feel great! I really do. I think he has a great chance of this, probably the best out of anybody and I feel like he represents pretty much everything that we’re really hoping for."
#HAPPENINGNOW Hundreds of people #FeelTheBern2020 in #Richmond, some lining up before 6 am to see @BernieSanders “Get Out the Early Vote Rally” in #votecalifornia ahead of March 3 Super Tuesday primary. #abc7now pic.twitter.com/ihIgogqih9
— Laura Anthony (@LauraAnthony7) February 17, 2020
The event was being billed as a "get out the vote" rally, and supporters were encouraged to bring their mail-in ballots to the event. The rally was expected to last until 3 p.m.
At least one supporter tried to take things off-script, as ABC 7 reports. A woman reportedly ran onto the stage, grabbed a microphone, and said, "Bernie I'm your biggest supporter and I'm here to ask you to stop propping up the dairy industry."
Sanders isn't the only candidate giving California some early-primary attention. Pete Buttigieg was in San Francisco on Friday, and a fundraiser for his supporters at the LGBTQ Center was met with a couple of protesters who say they are disappointed with his "middle of the road" stances.
The California primary is on March 3.
