Sanders promises to win back Midwest states Trump captured


Staff/wire report

MADISON, Wis.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders returned to the friendly terrain of Wisconsin on Friday, promising to build a coalition that will defeat President Donald Trump as he kicked off a swing through pivotal states that are part of the Democratic “blue wall” strategy for 2020.

Sanders, speaking to a crowd of about 2,400 who braved 40-degree temperatures with a stiff 20 mph wind, pledged to flip Midwestern states such as Wisconsin that Trump narrowly won in 2016.

“Together, we are going to make sure that does not happen again,” Sanders said to cheers. “We’re going to win here in Wisconsin. We’re going to win in Indiana. We’re going to win in Ohio. We’re going to win in Michigan. We’re going to win in Pennsylvania and, together, we’re going to win this election.”

Sanders will be at Lordstown High School at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Sanders is meeting with Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers president, and members of the AFT- affiliated Lordstown Teachers Association to discuss the impact of the closing of the General Motors facility in that village.

The independent senator from Vermont carried Wisconsin by 13 points in the Democratic primary three years ago and has been a frequent visitor since losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton. He touted his appeal to working-class and college-age voters, while fostering his network of supporters before this second run for president.

“He’s the real deal,” said Sanders backer Lynn Glueck, 50, a teacher from Madison who wore a winter coat with the hood up for the rally. She said to win, Sanders needs to emphasize his “long-term integrity.”

“It’s not like he came up with these ideas the past two years, Glueck said. “He is not somebody who is bought and sold.”