Sanders launches massive volunteer effort from D.C. apartment

Nicole Gaudiano | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Sights and sounds from Bernie Sanders' house party Sights and sounds from Bernie Sanders' house party

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders launched a massive volunteer effort for his presidential campaign Wednesday night, surrounded by supporters in a modest, steamy apartment in southwest Washington.

The Vermont independent, who is running for the Democratic nomination, delivered live-streamed remarks to more than 3,500 grassroots gatherings in homes, coffee shops and union halls in all 50 states.

Reading remarks from a rickety lectern, he told supporters they were making history. No presidential campaign has ever held such a large online effort so far from Election Day, he said. More than 100,000 people signed up for Wednesday night's meetings.

"The American people are saying loudly and clearly, enough is enough," Sanders said. "This great country and our government belong to all of us and not just a handful of billionaires."

Sanders touched on his major campaign themes: addressing income inequality, raising the minimum wage, and reforming campaign finance laws. He said the only way to take on the "billionaire class" is with a strong grassroots movement, a "political revolution" involving supporters who knock on doors and talk to friends and family about the campaign.

"Bring them into the movement," he said. "When we do all of that, we are going to make history in November 2016."

Sanders has said he hopes volunteers will advance his campaign "in ways they think are best" in each state.

Yalcin Dogan, a software engineer who was among the supporters inside the Washington apartment where Sanders spoke, said he would be happy to write code for the campaign if that's what they need.

"Or, I can just go door to door, try to convince people," he said.

Shirley Buzzard, a medical anthropologist, said Sanders is one of her "heroes." She's made some donations and said she's willing to volunteer her time, too.

"Whatever they need me to do," she said.

Sanders' staff is ready to put people to work. After he spoke, supporters were instructed to send a text to receive a link to a volunteer signup form they could use to tell the campaign what role they want to play.

"We need you to bring this movement to your community by doing unglamorous but essential work like knocking on doors, calling voters, voter registration, helping out with big campaign events," Claire Sandberg, the campaign's digital organizing director told supporters. "Doing all of these things and more is how we're going to turn huge crowds and popular support for Bernie into winning."

The campaign will coordinate with volunteers, but Sanders said he doesn't believe in a "top-down structure."

"They will take ownership of activities that are taking place in their state," Sanders told USA TODAY recently. "In many states right now we have no staff at all. Zero. And we will, but right now we don't, and these guys will get the ball rolling on a grassroots level."

Volunteer groups around the country were putting their own spin on the events. Students at a Seattle community college are giving everyone a pocket Constitution and a packet on Sanders' platform. A group in Texas is cooking "Biscuits for Bernie."

At the Washington event with Sanders, host Miguel Marcelino, a "mixologist" at a Washington "cocktail lab," mixed "Bernie's Paloma," a tequila drink he created with Vermont maple syrup.

Marcelino's wife, Manisha Sharma, arranged the event, not knowing at the time that Sanders would later ask to join them. Sanders picked her particular event because of the diverse neighborhood where they live, according to his campaign.

Sharma had planned a small sit-down dinner for five neighbors, but the event quickly grew to 25 and she had to move it to her neighbor's larger apartment.

Sharma, 34, said she's never participated in political organizing. A political independent and a banking attorney specializing in financial regulation and consumer compliance, she's worked for several federal banking regulators and has consulted for large banking clients. She said she was drawn to Sanders for his banking and financial regulatory agenda.

"What Bernie's trying to do when he says 'breaking up big banks' is making them more manageable," said Sharma, who advises banks and consumers on technology solutions. "They can't see their toes beyond their belly. I think it's so necessary."

At the end of the party, she presented Sanders with a photo of Mahatma Gandhi signed by attendees, with the quote: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Sharma's grandfather was a freedom fighter with the Indian independence leader, who also fought economic oppression.

"Maybe that is what this campaign is about," Sanders said after reading the quote.