PRESS RELEASE

Bernie’s People-Powered Campaign Draws Big Crowds in Iowa,
More than 34,000 at Campaign Stops since Campaign Kickoff



DECEMBER 31, 2015



DES MOINES, Iowa – More than 500 people, bundled in winter coats, turned out Thursday on New Year’s Eve at an elementary school in rural Knoxville, Iowa, to hear Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The night before, another 800 people packed into a meeting place decorated with holiday ornaments in snow-covered Ottumwa, Iowa.

The big turnouts during a three-day campaign swing across Iowa pushed to more than 34,000 the total number of supporters and others who came to Sanders’ campaign events since his bid for the White House officially began last April 30. Another 1,000 campaign volunteers and others are expected at a New Year’s Eve party that Sanders is throwing Thursday night here in the state capital.

With the Feb. 1 precinct caucuses only one month away, Sanders thanked Iowans for taking seriously their unique role in the American presidential nomination process.

“We are running a simple, straightforward grassroots campaign. Nothing fancy. We are discussing the major issues facing our country and hearing what Iowans have to say. I am very pleased that the turnouts at our meetings have been large and seem to be getting larger every day,” Sanders said. “As of the end of the year, we have had town meetings and rallies which have brought out more than 34,000 people. By the end of the campaign here in Iowa I suspect the number will be closer to 50,000.”

“We sense real growing momentum here in Iowa and we think we have a great opportunity to win,” Sanders added.

The 34,702 figure only counts Sanders-sponsored campaign events since April 30. All told, the senator hosted 49 meetings in Iowa since last spring. The total does not include, for example, major Iowa Democratic Party dinners attended by Sanders and other candidates or the record crowd on the midway at the Iowa State Fair last August when Sanders drew a bigger crowd than any presidential candidate at The Des Moines Register Soapbox.


To see where Sanders has drawn big crowds in Iowa, click here.




https://berniesanders.com/press-release/bernies-people-powered-campaign-draws-big-crowds-iowa-34000-campaign-stops-since-campaign-kickoff/

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley won't appear on the Ohio primary ballot after he failed to submit enough valid signatures to qualify, an Ohio secretary of state spokesman said Thursday.

O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, needed to submit 1,000 valid signatures to qualify for Ohio's March 15 primary. But only 772 of the 1,175 signatures he turned in were certified as coming from registered Ohio Democratic voters, said Joshua Eck, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Eck said three Democrats qualified for the Ohio presidential primary ballot: former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and little-known San Diego businessman Rocky de la Fuente.

O'Malley's campaign did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. But in an email to the Associated Press, an O'Malley spokeswoman stated, "While this news is disappointing, we are exploring all of our options, and Gov. O'Malley will campaign vigorously in Ohio."

cont'

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/12/martin_omalley_fails_to_make_o.html

PRESS RELEASE

Sanders: Ramadi a Model for Destroying ISIS


DECEMBER 29, 2015



MUSCATINE, Iowa – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders called the Iraqi army’s recapture of a provincial capital once controlled by Islamic State militants a model for how the United States can support Muslim nations and defeat the terrorist group.





“The goal of U.S. foreign and military policy must be to destroy ISIS, but to do it in a way that does not get American troops involved in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Our goal must be to establish a strong international coalition – made up of our Muslim allies and major powers such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Russia as well as the United States,” Sanders said at a town-hall meeting here in southeastern Iowa.

“In an area of the world where there is scant good news, we have seen a very positive development in the last few days. Iraqi armed forces, with the support of U.S. air attacks, fought effectively and drove ISIS out of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province.

“In fact, in the past year, ISIS has lost 40 percent of the territory it once controlled in Iraq,” Sanders added.

“As King Abdullah of Jordan has stated forcefully, the struggle against ISIS must be won on the ground by Muslim nations who are fighting for the soul of Islam against those who have hijacked their religion. What happened in Ramadi is a model for the most effective way that the United States and our allies can destroy ISIS and its barbaric ideology,” the senator said.

Sanders comments on the Middle East came during a town meeting held in the Muscatine High School auditorium. It was the first stop of a three-day visit to Iowa.


Watch the video:





https://berniesanders.com/press-release/sanders-ramadi-a-model-for-destroying-isis/

Shaun King ✔@ShaunKing

This is a big deal.

The State Senators from Harlem & Queens (Clinton strongholds) just endorsed @BernieSanders.

http://nydn.us/1QYoYwr

10:46 AM - 30 Dec 2015


New York Daily News

KING: Senators in Harlem, Queens support Sanders — EXCLUSIVE

In two districts believed to be Clinton strongholds, the state senators from Harlem and Queens will endorse Bernie Sanders instead.
Photo published for KING: Senators in Harlem, Queens support Sanders — EXCLUSIVE View on web


Shaun King has the exclusive piece @NewYorkDailyNews about the stronghold of all Clinton Strongholds:

In two districts once believed to be Hillary Clinton strongholds, the state senators from Harlem and Queens — Bill Perkins and James Sanders Jr. — will endorse Bernie Sanders instead, the Daily News has learned exclusively. The endorsements of local politicians, who often have the best ground operations and better connections with actual voters, are highly coveted in a race like this.

Harlem, maybe above anywhere else, has been considered not only as a Hillary Clinton stronghold, but as a Clinton family stronghold. After his presidency, Harlem is where Bill Clinton opened up his first office and called his home base for years. Whether you see what happened next as revitalization or gentrification, his presence had a significant impact on Harlem.

Hillary Clinton’s greatest firewall in her bid to win the democratic nomination for President is her overwhelming brand recognition and support in the African-American community, but many progressive black and Latino leaders are beginning to lean toward Bernie as we inch closer to the first primaries in 2016.

Thank you Shaun King.

Go Bernie!!


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/30/1464788/-Shaun-King-The-State-Senators-from-Harlem-Queens-Clinton-strongholds-just-endorsed-BernieSanders

A year ago, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton called for deporting undocumented immigrant children from the United States; now she is expressing concerns about just such plans. Late on Wednesday, the Washington Post broke the news that the Obama administration is prepping large-scale raids aimed at deporting hundreds of Central American undocumented migrants who fled to the United States to escape drug war violence in their countries. The news provoked harsh condemnation from Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley, who called on the administration to cease the plan.

The reaction from the Clinton campaign was softer, but critical. “Hillary Clinton has real concerns about these reports, especially as families are coming together during the holiday season,” campaign spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa said. “She believes it is critical that everyone has a full and fair hearing, and that our country provides refuge to those who need it. And we should be guided by a spirit of humanity and generosity as we approach these issues.”

Yet Clinton did not join her rivals in calling for the deportations to be halted. This could be because back in 2014, as the Central American migrant crisis became apparent, it was Clinton who first broke with the Obama administration, calling for the migrants to be sent back.


cont'

https://theintercept.com/2015/12/28/hillary-clinton-now-says-she-has-concerns-about-deporting-migrant-children/

THIS NEEDS NO WORDS.





So, the next time someone tells you that Hillary is automatic and Bernie can’t win, let them glance at this. Disregarding Bernie for a moment, how does Hillary’s company look in this chart? A sea of red.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/29/1464696/-Look-at-this-chart-and-tell-me-again-about-electability

Democratic presidential contenders Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley will both speak at a January "Putting Families First Presidential Forum" hosted by two liberal community groups in Des Moines.

The event organized by the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund and the Center for Community Change Action will focus on climate change, racial and economic justice and other issues that affect "communities who were left behind in the economic recovery," according to a news release. The progressive magazine The Nation is also a partner in the event.

The forum will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 at First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave. People who are interested in learning more about the event can visit

www.cccaction.org

or

www.cciaction.org



http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/12/28/sanders-omalley-appear-family-focused-forum/77992062/

Hi Guys,

A new petition is currently running asking MoveOn to call a membership vote to endorse a candidate before the Iowa Primary. On the Run Warren Run website MoveOn state:

“We'll consider potential endorsements later on in the cycle if it appears MoveOn members might coalesce around a particular candidate. As in any election, if we do ultimately endorse a candidate, that endorsement would follow a MoveOn member vote.”

The petition will demonstrate there are enough people wanting to "coalesce" around a candidate for them to call a vote.

Please help! Sign the petition and encourage everyone you know to sign it too!

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/anna-galland-please-hold?source=c.em&r_by=14674214

Feel The Bern!



http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2015/12/help-moveon-endorse-bernie-sanders-sunday-3rd