Local Bernie Sanders supporters amp up grassroots efforts

“Bernie essentially tied Hilary in Iowa and had a tremendous win in New Hampshire,” said Jeffrey Smedberg, with Santa Cruz for Bernie.

To keep the surge going, Santa Cruz for Bernie held a barnstorm in Santa Cruz to get more voices on the phone and feet on the ground.

“He’s for the people,” said Sanders supporter Bill Welsh. “He’s been extremely consistent over the past 30,35 years.”

Volunteers learned how to do everything from handing out fliers to phone banking, all aimed at getting out voters for the Vermont senator on the Central Coast and in other states.

“What I’m hoping to take out of it is just a better feel for where the campaign is going and what we need to do in order to win,” said Welsh.

Since he threw his hat in the race, Sanders supporters on the Central Coast have run an aggressive grass roots campaign.

“That just gives you a sense of how far from being an unknown candidate to nine months ago when we started our support group here in Santa Cruz, he’s come a long way,” said Smedberg.

While Hillary Clinton’s campaign has also hosted activities on the peninsula, some of her supporters believe she doesn’t need to work as hard in this part of California, Clinton beat Barack Obama here in the 2008 primary.

“I think Hillary will have a lot to offer,” said California State assembly member Luis Alejo. “As we move into these other states I think we will see a momentum for Hillary, that she’ll pick up more delegates.”

But with the Democratic presidential candidates running neck and neck in some national polls, “I think both campaigns have to work hard and it’s up to the voters to decide,” said Alejo.