Central Coast locals show support for Sanders

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says he’s running for President in 2020.

His popularity with the rising progressive wing of democrats gives him a strong base nationwide and here on the Central Coast.

“[The announcement] was a relief, there’s been a lot of suspence and a lot of us in the movement have really expected this to come for a long time now,” said Glenn Glazer with Santa Cruz for Bernie.

President Trump also reacted to the news Tuesday.

“Personally, I think he missed his time,” Trump said, “But I like Bernie.”

Sanders says his 2020 campaign for president is a continuation of his 2016 campaign.

“In 2016, many of the ideas that I talked about – all of those ideas and many more are now part of the political mainstream,” Sanders said.

This time around, supporters like Glazer believe Bernie is already fixing what they say were mistakes from his last campaign.

“This year, this time the roll out was smooth, there was a website and an interview,” Glazer said, “[He] needed to improve and is working to improve his outreach to communities of color.”

Also different this year, is who Sanders is competing with inside the democratic party – fellow Senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren – many who share similar position on Medicare for all, a federal minimum wage and free college tuition.

But Glazer calls Bernie the original.

“There’ll be some jockeying and some stuff like this but I really don’t see any of them being able to do what he does,” Glazer said.

Preisdent Trump further weighed in on Sanders’ announcement – saying he even believes they share some views.

“You know on trade, he sort of would agree on trade. I’m being very tough on trade he was tough on trade. The problem is, he wouldn’t know what to do about it, we’re doing something very spectacular on trade.”

Glazer says he’s not sure who the majority of the Central Coast will support but is certain Sanders will carry Santa Cruz County.

“Santa Cruz went all the way for Bernie the entire time and it’s going to go all the way that way again,” Glazer said.

Sanders says he considers many of his competitors in the Senate as “friends”.

If he wins, Bernie Sanders would be the oldest elected president.

He would be 79 when he takes office.