Arkansans exult in Sanders' campaign run

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont raises his fist as he takes the stage Monday at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont raises his fist as he takes the stage Monday at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA -- U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders only won 10 of Arkansas' 27 delegates, but on Monday nearly the entire delegation stood and cheered for the presidential candidate from Vermont.

Supporters of Hillary Clinton gave up their front-row seats so Sanders' backers would have the best spots in the convention hall.



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As those in the arena broke into applause, Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Vince Insalaco hugged a misty-eyed Sanders delegate and hoisted a placard bearing Sanders' campaign motto: "A Future to Believe In."

Insalaco said it was appropriate to honor Sanders' supporters on their big night.

"It's just the right thing to do, you know?" Insalaco said. "I've been in their shoes a lot of times. ... I know the feeling. In the end we're all going to end up on the same page."

For several of the Arkansas delegates, it was the first time they'd seen the leader of their political revolution. They waved baby blue "Bernie" signs and roared their approval as he called for economic equality.

And when Sanders urged his activists to stand with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in November, Clinton backers stood and showered him with applause.

Sarah Scanlon, who ran Sanders' Arkansas campaign, called the speech "a pretty good ... concession-endorsement."

"I think it's pretty clear and without a question that he is saying that Hillary's the candidate and that we need to do everything we can do to elect her," the Sanders delegate said.

"I'm proud of what we did," she said. "I thought it made a tremendous amount of difference to the future and how we work in politics and how we engage people. I think all in all it was really good."

Andrew Gaber, another Sanders delegate, stayed until the speech was over, remaining near the stage as the arena emptied.

Seeing Sanders speak had been "otherworldly," he said.

The Springdale resident had never seen his candidate speak in person. Sanders hadn't campaigned in Arkansas, Gaber said, and he'd been unable to see the senator when he campaigned in Missouri.

But on Monday, Gaber got to see Sanders speak twice: first to a gathering of Sanders delegates and then to a packed convention hall.

"He's as powerful in person as he is on TV or on radio," Gaber said.

Teresa Gallegos, a 28-year-old Sanders delegate from Russellville, was one of many in the crowd who teared up during or after Monday's speech.

"Bernie Sanders is the first political candidate that I have ever personally connected with," she said. "He represents me. He represents my family and my friends."

Before joining the Sanders campaign, "the extent of my participation in politics was just showing up to vote every November. That's it," she said.

But this year she volunteered to work on a phone bank, helping get out the vote for Sanders.

"The first person I called completely cussed me out, but I made another phone call and I kept making phone calls, and I've called thousands of people all over the country," she said.

After she canvassed door-to-door across Russellville for Sanders, organizers urged her to run for delegate.

"I've learned so much. It's completely changed my life," she said.

Although the 2016 Sanders presidential campaign may end, Gallegos said her involvement in politics will continue. "It's not the end. It's only the beginning," she said.

Metro on 07/26/2016

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