Sen. Bernie Sanders Looks to Recreate 2016 Momentum in Michigan
Michigan’s Democratic primary could mark a pivotal moment for Sen. Bernie Sanders second presidential campaign as he tours the state courting blue-collar workers and voters of color.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was barnstorming across Michigan this weekend, including a massive rally at Detroit’s TCF Center that drew a mostly millennial crowd of 6,000 people.
It’s an important state for the Vermont senator. Sanders’ surprise win over Hillary Clinton in Michigan’s primary four years ago jump-started his campaign.
Now Sanders again enters Michigan trailing a rival, this time former Vice President Joe Biden. But Sanders says working families in Michigan know him and his record far better this time around.
Editor’s note: 101.9 WDET is committed to offering our listeners balanced and comprehensive coverage of the 2020 Michigan presidential primaries. We have reached out to former Vice President Joe Biden’s and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s campaigns for interviews, but as of press time have yet to hear back.
“If you run the same old, same old type of campaign, I just don’t know that you’re going to generate the type of excitement that we need to defeat Trump.” – Sen. Bernie Sanders
“They know that I did everything that I could to defeat disastrous trade agreements like NAFTA. And Joe Biden supported those agreements, which ended-up costing us millions of good-paying jobs and decimated areas like Detroit, Michigan,” he said.
Listen: Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks with WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter in advance of the Michigan primary.
Michigan has the most delegates at stake in the upcoming Democratic primary.
Sanders is banking on a victory in the state to slow Biden’s momentum after Super Tuesday. So he’s on the attack.
He accuses Biden of being too tied to corporate interests to effectively represent Michigan workers.
And he’s pushing back against criticism that his progressive agenda is too radical to attract moderate voters.
“People understand that when you are beholden to wealthy campaign contributors you cannot effectively speak for the working families of this country.” – Sen. Bernie Sanders
“If you run the same old, same old type of campaign, if your money comes from 60 billionaires, I just don’t know that you’re going to generate the type of excitement that we need to defeat Trump,” Sanders said.
He’s highlighting differences with Biden over trade policies and support for women and the LGBT community.
He’s also touting a Sanders campaign he says defines grass roots populism.
“I don’t have Michael Bloomberg supporting my campaign,” Sanders said. “I don’t have the CEO’s of large corporations supporting my campaign. And people understand that when you are beholden to wealthy campaign contributors you cannot effectively speak for the working families of this country.”
But Biden is also pressing his working-class roots. And the former vice president has long-standing ties to Michigan, where the Obama Administration bailed out the state’s signature auto industry and helped Detroit’s exit from bankruptcy.
Sanders says he’s looking for a repeat of his unexpected primary victory in 2016.
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