Damien Willis

Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES - Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared at a campaign rally in Vado Saturday. A crowd estimated near 5,000 showed up at Vado Elementary School — some arriving as early as 5 a.m. — to hear the Democratic presidential hopeful speak.

Sanders is the only presidential candidate who has appeared in southern New Mexico during the primary campaign season.

Parked cars lined the mile-and-a-half route along Vado Drive between the school and Interstate 10. Supporters walked along the roadside carrying signs that read “Soy Vado” (“I am Vado”) and “Bernie for President.”

Gates opened at 10 a.m. and Sanders took the stage just past noon to the cheers of supporters, and spoke for about 40 minutes.

“I’m running for president because it is unacceptable to me that almost 30 percent of the children in New Mexico are living in poverty,” Sanders told the crowd.

Moments later, Sanders directed his remarks toward education.

“I’m running for president because New Mexico has the worst graduation rate in the country,” Sanders said. “Over 30 percent of students in New Mexico are either dropping out of high school or are not graduating when they should. Together, we are going to change that. We’re going to create an educational system of high quality that works for the kids of New Mexico and America.”

Sanders cited Pope Francis’ call for a “moral economy, not an economy based on greed.” His first mention of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton drew boos from the crowd. Clinton is 86 delegates away from clinching the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Secretary Clinton and I have some very important differences of opinion,” he told the crowd. “One of those differences is how we raise our money. I am the only candidate that does not have a super PAC. I do not want money from Wall Street or corporate America because we do not represent Wall Street or corporate America. We represent the working families in this country.”

Saturday’s stop was Sanders’ third New Mexico rally in two days, and followed Friday appearances in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Sanders seeks out Democrats in heavily Hispanic NM

Vado, a colonia of fewer than 3,200 residents, is 95 percent Hispanic, according to the 2010 census. The median household income is $23,538, and about one-third of families live below the poverty line.

"It’s given us the spotlight that we need for the infrastructure that we need in Vado," said Teresa Zamora, a resident of Vado for the past 28 years.

Audience welcomes Sanders' message at Vado rally

Vado saw severe flooding in 2013 that led to evacuations, road closures and lasting infrastructure damage that have mostly gone unfixed in the past three years.

"Anybody that is willing to recognize us and come to our communities is somebody that is worth it to us," Zamora added.

“We’re trying to get around the state,” Sanders told the Sun-News, when asked why he chose to visit Vado. “We wanted to get into more rural areas, and that’s why we’re here.”

Sanders said communities such as Vado deserve more attention, and that as a senator from Vermont, he understands rural communities.

“We have ignored for too long the needs of the people in rural America,” Sanders said. “We have got to make sure that we join the rest of the industrialized world and guarantee healthcare for all people —and make sure, not only that we guarantee healthcare, but that there is healthcare access. That means having doctors and nurses and dentists in areas of America where often there are not enough of them.”

Sanders told the Sun-News that communities such as Vado face a severely crumbling and insufficient infrastructure.

“In many communities in this country, clean water is a serious problem and wastewater plants are becoming obsolete,” Sanders said. “We’ve got a rail system that used to be the best in the world, and it no longer is. Our plan is to invest a trillion dollars in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and create 13 million jobs.”

Time and again at Sanders’ rally, he returned to the planks of his platform — healthcare for all, free access to higher education and the disparity between America’s working class and the wealthiest 1 percent. At one point during the speech, the candidate paused to put on a yellow New Mexico cap.

“It’s hot here,” he said to the crowd, as volunteers passed out water to supporters.

After the rally, supporters said they like what they heard.

"His speech was amazing," said Daniel El Ashmawi of Las Cruces. "He talked about every issue in this country. He made us feel like we should all work together for a better future."

"His amazing speech brought tears to my eyes because his vision is the America I want my grandchildren to grow up in," said Donna Thomas of Las Cruces.

"I really enjoyed how passionate he was in talking about the things that mattered to all of us there," said Stevie Paz of Las Cruces. "I know specifically for me, (he talked about) how the criminal justice system is in need of reform. I recently graduated with a bachelors in Criminal Justice from NMSU and most, if not all, of my professors touched on issues within the criminal justice system that are in need of reform. It's up to us as Criminal Justice practitioners to take the initiative to change it."

Damien Willis may be reached at 575-541-5468, dawillis@lcsun-news.com or @damienwillis on Twitter.