INDIANOLA, Iowa ― In his first campaign event since ending a week in Washington for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made a forceful case on Saturday that he is the Democratic presidential candidate with the best chance of unseating the GOP president.
“No disrespect to my Democratic colleagues who are competing for the nomination, they’re friends of mine, but I believe that we are the strongest campaign to defeat Trump,” he declared on Saturday to a crowd of people on the campus of Simpson College.
Sanders based his argument on what he sees as two of his key strengths.
He insists that his campaign is uniquely capable of inspiring groups of people who typically do not show up at the polls, like working-class voters and younger people.
“To defeat Donald Trump, who will be a formidable candidate for a number of reasons, we need to have the largest voter turnout in American history. That’s just a fact. If it is a low turnout election, Trump will win,” he said. “And I believe that our campaign is the campaign of energy, is the campaign of excitement [and] can bring millions of people into the political process who normally do not vote.”
Sanders also implied that his brand of economic populism makes him a more credible messenger for the idea that Trump has failed to live up to his own populist promise.
“We are going to expose his hypocrisy, his lies,” Sanders said.
“Trump said that he was a different type of Republican, that he was going to take on the establishment, he was a champion of the working class in America,” he continued. “If you’re a champion of the working class of America, you don’t try to throw 32 million people off the health care that they have! If you are a champion of working people, you don’t write a tax bill, which gives 83% of the benefits to the top 1%!”
The focus on Trump, who Sanders also characterized as a racist bent on undermining the rule of law, continues his modest shift in emphasis toward electability in the final days before the caucuses on Monday. This past Thursday, Sanders debuted a TV ad in Iowa touting his decades of experience defending Social Security from cuts, compared with Trump’s recent suggestion that he would eventually entertain reductions in “entitlements.”
But Sanders, who has occasionally struggled to keep surrogates and aides on message, also found himself implicitly addressing controversy created by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) on Friday night. Tlaib, who spoke on a panel at a Sanders rally with Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), joined members of the audience in booing Hillary Clinton for repeatedlyattacking Sanders in recent weeks. Tlaib apologized on Saturday, but only after a spokesman for Clinton and other mainstream Democrats cited Tlaib’s conduct as an illustration of Sanders’ allegedly divisive effect on the party.
“By the way, let me say this so there is no misunderstanding,” Sanders said, “certainly I hope that we’re going to win. But if we do not win, we will support the winner and I know that every other candidate will do the same. We are united in understanding that we must defeat Donald Trump.”
Some Iowans at the rally enjoyed hearing from Sanders. Ashley Merkley, an undecided Simpson College student, who attended with her friend, Maggie Flowers, a hardcore Sanders enthusiast, said the event made it more likely that she would caucus for Sanders on Monday. She is also considering entrepreneur Andrew Yang, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
“I appreciated how genuine he seemed,” Merkley said of Sanders.
Jay Wilkinson, a college employee, attended the event, despite his commitment to caucus for former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. He is not a fan of “Medicare for All,” which is part of why he thinks Sanders is “too far left.”
Wilkinson still appreciated hearing Sanders’ remarks, particularly his promise to support the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, regardless of who it is.
“I was very heartened by what he said today. I hadn’t heard that,” he said. “And I did hold some resentment toward him because I feel like he and his supporters lost the 2016 election because they did not get behind Hillary.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), left, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), center, exit the Senate floor after Paul spoke about surveillance legislation on Capitol Hill on May 31, 2015.
National Anthem
From left: U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) place their hands over their hearts during the playing of the national anthem during a presentation ceremony for the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of the American Fighter Aces' service to the United States at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2015. Congress honored the service of the pilots with the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.
Remembering Officers
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Elton John
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Loretta Lynch Testimony
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch (right) appears before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on May 7, 2015. The committee is hearing testimony on the Justice Department's budget request for fiscal year 2016.
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U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) leaves after a news conference to speak on his agenda for America on Capitol Hill on April 30, 2015, after announcing he would run for U.S. president.
Japanese Prime Minister
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Hotdish Competition
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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks while flanked by members of the Congressional Black Caucus during a news conference on Capitol Hill on April 22, 2015. Pelosi urged the Senate to immediately confirm Loretta Lynch's nomination as attorney general.
Justice March
Henry Singleton of New York City holds up a sign as U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) speaks during a rally to mark the finish of March2Justice on April 21, 2015, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Dozens of marchers took part in an eight-day, 250-mile march from Staten Island, New York, to the nation's capital to demand congressional intervention to tackle "the national crisis of police violence."
Special Guest
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, second from left, speaks with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), second from right, as they pose for a photo alongside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), left, and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), right, prior to a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2015.
Gyrocopter At The Capitol
Capitol Hill police officers and other officials lift a gyrocopter that landed on the U.S. Capitol's South Lawn, onto a trailer on April 15, 2015. A man identified as Doug Hughes, 61, illegally landed his aircraft on the Capitol lawn, triggering street closures around the building and prompting a police investigation. Hughes is described as a mailman, and a logo appearing to be that of the U.S. Postal Service was visible on the tail fin of the aircraft.
Secretary Of State Parade
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Harry Reid's Retirement
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McCain Applauds
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) applauds the final comments from fellow committee member, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as they conclude a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 26, 2015, to discuss the situation in Yemen. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) is at right.
Ben Affleck
Actor, filmmaker and founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative Ben Affleck testifies before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing on "Diplomacy, Development, and National Security" on March 26, 2015. His wife, Jennifer Garner, looks on.
Bill Gates
Bill Gates testifies during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing on "Diplomacy, Development, and National Security" on March 26, 2015.
Twin Tears
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, left, and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) wipe away tears after listening to the remarks of Nicklaus' son Jack Nicklaus II during the elder Nicklaus' Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on March 24, 2015. Nicklaus was lauded by family, friends and politicians for his many sports achievements and his philanthropy.
Affordable Care Act Anniversary
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lead the way down the House steps for the House Democratic Caucus media event to mark the fifth anniversary of President Barack Obama signing into law the Affordable Care Act on March 24, 2015.
Meerkat In The House
Conference aide SoRelle Wyckoff films a news conference in the Capitol after a meeting of the House Republican Conference using the live streaming app Meerkat on March 24, 2015.
Congressional Gold Medal
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, center, is presented the Congressional Gold Medal by, from left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the Capitol Rotunda on March 24, 2015.
Secret Service Talks To Congress
Joseph Clancy, director of the U.S. Secret Service, testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in on March 19, 2015.
Spring Cleaning
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Supreme Women
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When Irish Ties Are Smilin'
From left: Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), President Barack Obama (D) and Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Enda Kenny depart the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill on St. Patrick's Day 2015.
Colonial Visit For Marijuana
Dressed in colonial garb, Adam Eidinger and fellow D.C. marijuana advocates visit the office staff of Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 17, 2015, to protest the congressman's stand in regard to legalized marijuana in the District of Columbia. Legislative Director Amber Kirby Talley receives a pipe from Eidinger.
Goldendoodle
Shawna Blair, of the Senate Periodical Press Gallery, holds her dog George Clooney, a 4-month-old Goldendoodle, for Kate Hunter of Bloomberg News to pet in the Capitol's Senate Press Gallery on March 13, 2015.
Code Pink
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Cruz Waves
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Warren Talks
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speaks during the International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference General Session at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on March 9, 2015.
Speaking On Gun Control
Former astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of former congresswoman and handgun violence survivor Gabby Giffords, is joined by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) and Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) for a news conference about background checks for gun purchases in the Canon House Office Building on March 4, 2015.
Selfie Time
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), shoots a video selfie as he heads to the House floor for votes on March 4, 2015.
Giffords' Voice
Former Congresswoman and handgun violence survivor Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) speaks during a news conference about background checks for gun purchases at the Canon House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 4, 2015.
Netanyahu Speaks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he steps to the lectern prior to speaking before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 3, 2015. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) applaud.
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