Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, speaks during a campaign rally in Springfield, Mass. on Oct. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

(CNSNews.com) - "You'd be surprised. There are more than a few Reublicans for Bernie Sanders out there. Don't be surprised if we do well with a number of Republicans," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Thursday.



Sanders agreed that there are strong differences of opinion between Republicans and Democrats on subjects such as abortion, guns, and gay marriage.

"But, you know, Republicans have to send their kids to college," he said. "Working-class Republicans can't afford to do that. Working-class Republicans have seen their factories shut down and moved to China. Working-class Republicans are equally disgusted about a campaign finance system which allows billionaires now to buy elections.



"So I think the message that we are bringing forth -- that we have got to come together to say that Wall Street and corporate America cannot continue to dominate our political and economic life. That we need an economy that works for working families, and not just the one percent. A lot of Republicans will respond to that as well."



Sanders said he will pay for the policies he's proposing by reversing what he called the "massive transfer of wealth" from the middle class to the top one tenth of one percent.



"And yes, my policies will demand that the top one percent and the largest corporations in this country start paying their fair share of taxes. Now what do we propose?" he asked rhetorically.



"I believe we should rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, invest a trillion dollars into our roads, bridges, water systems, rail, airports and create up to 13 million jobs.



"I believe we should raise the minimum wage over a period of several years...to 15 bucks an hour and have pay equity for women workers.



"I believe that we have to revise our disastrous trade policies so corporate America invests in this country rather than in China.



"In terms of Wall street -- three out of the four largest banks today are bigger than they were when we bailed them out because they were too big to fail. I think we should restablish Glass-Steagall (separation of commercial and investment banking). I think we should eventually break up these large financial institutions which today have too much economic and political power.

"I think that in terms of campaign finance reform -- a huge issue -- we've got to overturn Citizens United, in my view, move to public funding of elections.

"And let me tell you on another issue, and this where ...I'm afraid the Republicans are way, way out reality. And that is climate change. The scientific community is virtually unanimous -- climate change is real, it is caused by human activity. It is already causing devastating problems.

"We've got to work with China, India, Russia -- we have to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy.

"So those are some of the issues out there," Sanders said.