PHILADELPHIA – "We have got to defeat Donald Trump and we have got to elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said to a crowd of his delegates on Monday, July 25. Met with loud "boos," the crowd was unhappy with the statement.
This speech comes hours before Sanders will address the delegates at Wells Fargo Arena. Sanders was introduced by Killer Mike and Rosario Dawson.
The meeting between Sanders and his delegates discussed different facets of his campaign.
Sanders said the resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz will leave a door open for change in the Democratic party. But, his comment on Clinton was the comment that hit delegates hard.
"It was hard to hear," Idaho delegate A.J. Konda said. "You could tell it was hard for Bernie he was kind of choking on his words."
Konda said Sanders message was to get people elected into the legislative party that are behind the movement.
"No matter what we are going to continue this revolution," Michigan delegate for Sanders Neil Oza said.
Large groups in the convention center cheer together. #DNCinPHL @thesnews pic.twitter.com/WATdC1UxT5
— Rachel Fradette (@Rachel_Fradette) July 25, 2016
Sanders launched his new organization, "Our Revolution" and passed out forms to have delegates sign up, so the organization can go nationwide. Oza said it will be used to help garner legislative seats and more representation of Bernie's movement.
"Essentially, what he was saying was that we may have lost the executive branch, but what we need to do is take this momentum we have and reallocate it to the legislative branch," Konda said.
Sanders said the supporters need to build a movement represented on all levels of government.
Delegates shout,"We want Bernie." @thesnews #DemsInPhilly
— Rachel Fradette (@Rachel_Fradette) July 25, 2016
Many supporters seem unwillingly to get behind Hillary Clinton. Petitions have been seen around by delegates that want to nominate Sanders and allow a roll call vote to take place.
Illinois delegate Olivia Love-Hatlestad said she was among countless other delegates who were not admitted into the ballroom. She said she was told the room was "at capacity."
"They knew exactly how many of us there were," Love-Halstead said. "I don't know why they didn't try and get a bigger room."
Love-Halstead said she got in just in time to see him wave goodbye.
The concept of a division between Sanders and Clinton supporters was brought up.
"It's hard to watch," Idaho delegate Cecile Perez said. " He feels like he needed to say it."
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Crowd shouts, "Thank you Bernie." @thesnews End of speech. #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/5JXGiXC3VQ
— Rachel Fradette (@Rachel_Fradette) July 25, 2016
Idaho delegate Brittany Ruland said there was too much focus on what he said about Clinton.
"He said one thing about her and that was it and he moved on," Ruland said.
She said he looked at their revolution as a whole a lot more than Clinton.
