Saturday, May 18, 2019

News 12 at 11 O’Clock

AUGUSTA, GA (WRDW/WAGT) -- It's one of the biggest presidential races.

"It's probably one of the biggest ones in my generation at least," Jack Hahne said.

Some say it's one of the most controversial races.

"We said that since 2016," Shahayla Rollins said. "When 2020 comes here, more people are going to fight. Especially people who are affected by certain bans going on in America right now."

The race for 2020 presidency has a long road up ahead and long list of names. Senator Bernie Sanders is among the 26 in the running.

Saturday, Augusta took center stage on the campaign trail as Sanders drew a crowd of 1,576 right in the midst of Georgia's ongoing controversy: abortion.

"I am so glad today that candidates like Bernie Sanders are coming to ground zero in this fight for bodily autonomy that will be front and center on the ballot next fall."

"This is a pivotal and unprecedented moment in American history and our job is to run an unprecedented campaign," Senator Bernie Sanders said.

He spoke on criminal reform, raising the minimum wage, climate change and wealth equity.

"The top one-percent owns more wealth than the bottom 92-percent," Senator Sanders said. "Does anybody think that is vaguely moral or acceptable?"

His biggest focus and the center of his campaign: access to healthcare.

"I get criticized for being radical and extreme. I am not," Senator Sanders said. "All that I am talking about are ideas that the vast majority of American people support. The American people believe in Medicare for all."

While he has many ideas for office, he says, it all starts with getting one person out of it.

"Black and white and Latino, Asian American, Native American, gay and straight, men and woman, people born in this country and immigrants. We are going to stand together and we are going to defeat Donald Trump," Senator Sanders said.