MADISON — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says 9,500 people have said they plan to attend his rally on Wednesday night in Madison.



The Vermont senator said during a conference call Tuesday that he will draw on Wisconsin's long progressive political history during the event. Sanders says he believes the progressive movement that existed for years in Wisconsin is now spreading throughout the country.



The Sanders visit comes just a couple weeks before Republican Gov. Scott Walker is expected to launch his campaign for president.



Sanders says he is strongly opposed to Walker's agenda and the country needs new leadership that expands opportunities for working families and strengthens trade unions.



The Madison event comes after Sanders held similar rallies in the similarly liberal cities of Denver and Minneapolis.