Sanders: Gillum ‘has the people’ on his side
Vermont senator stumps for Democratic gubernatorial candidate at Orlando rally
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said a victory for Andrew Gillum in the Democratic governor’s race “would be an extraordinary step for Florida and for America” as he rallied with the candidate for governor and about 400 supporters in Orlando on Friday.
Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee whose showing in recent polls has been in the middle of the pack of five Democratic candidates, brought in Sanders, one of his biggest backers, for stops at both the University of Central Florida and in Tampa, with just 11 days left before the Aug. 28 primary.
Sanders has had a mixed record this year with his endorsements. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez scored a major upset in a New York congressional primary but this week both former Sanders campaign staffer Brent Welder in Kansas and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan lost, despite Sanders campaigning on their behalf.
“The other side has the money, Andrew has the people,” Sanders told the crowd in the lobby of CFE Arena. “But that
doesn’t work unless the people come out and vote.”
He also told the crowd to fight against what has been the biggest drawback to Democrats in midterm elections – apathy.
“I beg of you, when you talk to friends and they’re moaning and groaning about student debt, and they can’t afford health care or child care, tell them to stop moaning and groaning and get out and vote,” said Sanders, IVermont. “Andrew can win this election.”
Gillum was introduced by state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, who was discharged from the hospital this week after having suffered a ruptured appendix.
“I promised Andrew Gillum I’d do everything I can to help him win Florida, even if it meant carrying me on to this stage,” Smith joked.
Smith kicked off veiled shots that Gillum and Sanders also took at the other Democratic candidates in the race, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene, Winter Park businessman Chris King and former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, who also was in Orlando on Friday to campaign.
“Opponents have outspent Andrew Gillum 4 to 1, in some cases 20 to 1,” Smith said. “But it’s still anyone’s race to win.”
Gillum started out with a nod to “the home of the national champs,” a reference to the UCF Knights’ claim to the football title. He said his supporters were “the tip of the spear of the progressive revolution right here in Florida.”
He said his opponents “don’t believe you’re going to show up to vote. I think they’re wrong. I think a surge of progressive voters will show up across the state and say enough is enough, they’re tired of ‘Republican-lite.’”
Gillum cited his backing of gun reforms, a $15 minimum “living” wage, “Medicare for all” and environmental protections as positions that would bring Democratic voters to the polls. He also defended immigrants’ rights and said Florida should not become a “show-me-your-papers” state.
“We are going to send a strong message that the radical right will not be able to divide us by the color of our skin,” said Gillum, an African-American.
Sanders said Florida “needs a political revolution, and you’ve got a candidate in Andrew Gillum who’s going to lead that revolution.”
Tess Pelaia, a 21-year-old UCF senior, said she was so happy when she read Sanders was coming to her school that she screamed a little.
“It’s really cool [Sanders] is using his platform to endorse other like-minded candidates,” said Pelaia’s friend Skylar Destifino, also a 21-year-old UCF senior.