Cheryl Makin

(Bridgewater, N.J.) Courier News and (East Brunswick, N.J.) Home News Tribune

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — In an arena usually reserved for layups and three-pointers, Sen. Bernie Sanders scored quite a few slam dunks at the Louis Brown Athletic Center at Rutgers University.

Vowing to stay in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sanders encouraged an enthusiastic crowd at Sunday’s rally to place their trust and faith in him.

"We are not in the minority. Our vision is the future of America," Sanders said. "Every idea, virtually every one, had the support of the majority of the American people. We are doing well because, we are doing something unusual — we are telling people the truth."

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Wowing the thousands who came to support the longtime politician on Mother’s Day, Sanders reiterated his stance on income inequality, the “rigged” economic system, college tuition, loan reform, the minimum wage, drug reform, environmental issues and mental and health care all the while calling for a political revolution.

Sanders called the "rigged" economy "immoral, unsustainable and un-American."

“We have won 18 state primaries and caucuses," Sanders said. "With your help we will win a lot more in the next month, including New Jersey. In state after state, we have taken on the political establishment, we have still own over 45% percent of pledged delegates, but as all of you who are good in arithmetic know, we have got to make it 50%, and that this what we intend to do. From now until the last primary in Washington, D.C., on June 14, we are going to fight for every single vote."

There are 142 delegates at stake in the Garden State for Democrats; 51 for the Republicans. With the primary on June 7, New Jersey is one of four states to vote that day and one of the last primaries scheduled.

State Democrats award most of their delegates proportionally according to the vote, while the Republicans primary is a winner-take-all event.

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"Together, we will do something radical," Sanders said. "We will create an economy that works for all of us, not just wealthy campaign contributors ... Take a deep breath and do some thinking — this is the wealthiest country on earth — you tell me why we have the highest rate of homelessness, why millions are working for inadequate wages and why wealth is going to the top 1%. Together, we will take on billionaire class and we are going to tell them that they cannot have it all."

Sanders said he was not going to allow the American dream to be destroyed.

"My father had no money and never made any money," he said. "He and my mom worked hard so his kids did better. That is called the American dream — and together we are not going to allow that American dream to die."

Sanders frequently assured the attendees that Donald Trump will not become the next president of the United States.

"On every national poll and statewide poll, we beat him in double-digit numbers," he said. "If Democrats want to have strongest candidate, we beat Trump by a larger margin than Hillary Clinton."

As for Clinton, his Democratic opponent, Sanders said "you can tell a lot about a candidate by the way he or she raises funds they need to run for president."

"Now Secretary Clinton raised her money in a different way, the traditional way, though super-PACs and the last filing report, $25 million came from special interests, including $15 million from Wall Street."

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Even though Rutgers students are in the midst of finals, they came out in droves wearing "Students For Bernie" stickers.

Soon-to-be grads Madeline Tucker, 21, of Dallas and Paraskevi Georgalos, 22, of Little Falls, N.J., felt the rally was inspiring.

"I feel like we witnessed history," Georgalos said. "He makes everything very relatable without dehumanizing us and making us feel inferior."

Sanders asked recent graduates to yell out their college loan debts and promised education loan reform.

"Our push-pin item that pushes us to Bernie Sanders is his student loan reform," said Matt Lawlor, 27, who came with his graduate-student wife, Gabriela Lawlor, 27, and friend Carlos Lara, 25, all of New Brunswick. "I got my master's degree and have over 120K in debt. It's a debt that impedes my ability to have kids and own a home one day. I need a candidate to reform the education system."

Gabriela Lawlor agreed with her husband, saying she is still racking up debt.

"We need something to be done in this country," said Lawlor, who works in city planning. "I also support his reforms in investing in infrastructure."

"He is honest," Lara added. "He cares for the people and I think his plan will work."

Having volunteered for Sanders in their home state, Jeff Reidy and Anthony and Michele Downing trekked in from Bethlehem, Pa. Reidy said he was so busy campaigning that he never had the opportunity to go to a Sanders’ rally. He saw Sunday as his chance.

“I support Bernie for his honesty,” Reidy said. “His honesty speaks to the common man. He speaks for me. I like his policies, I like his progressive ideas in Washington — they are long overdue — and he wants real change. Not just the word change.”

Follow Cheryl Makin on Twitter: ​@CherylMakin