Support for Bernie Sanders grows in Santa Cruz County, especially with women

If you drive around Santa Cruz County, it’s easy to see that Bernie Sanders has lots of supporters – especially women. Campaign signs hang outside homes and cars are covered with bumper stickers.

“Feel the Bern,” shouted Sanders supporter Alina Montgomery.

Hillary Clinton is pushing the historic nature of her campaign to be America’s firstfemale president. But young Democratic women like Alina Montgomery said they aren’t necessarily buying that message.

“I feel that just because you’re a feminist doesn’t mean you need to vote for a woman candidate,” said Montgomery.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addressed that issue this weekend at a rally for Clinton.

“There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other,” said Albright.

Albrights’s rallying cry for Clinton has angered many women.

“This isn’t a polarizing thing where women (are) against men. This is something where what is the best you can do for everybody,” said Catharine Gunderson.

And that’s why on Tuesday the group Santa Cruz for Bernie gathered at a local brewery in Soquel to watch Sanders celebrate a victory in the nation’s first primary.

Montgomery said it’s his views on college tuition that sway her, not his gender.

“It’s been very difficult to afford housing with such a big debt from the college tuition,” said Montgomery.

Entrance polls taken at the Iowa caucuses showed Democratic women under the age of 30 favored Sanders by an overwhelming margin.

“I think that he is more of a feminist than Hillary as far as his voting record,” said Montgomery.