Connects with voters“I feel that Bernie connects to me, unlike most candidates,” said Carthage student David Godbold, who shook Sanders’ hand following his speech. “He really wants to try and help black voters. He wants to try and help this race issue, all of this systematic stuff that’s happening in America with black people in general. He’s most in tune with what’s going on, and this is my main issue.”

Godbold, 22, said he believes Sanders appeals to young people because “he’s saying a lot of things that appeal to college students.”

Caregiver Colleen Whyte, 29, waited in the cold “to get close to Bernie.”

“I trust him completely,” she said. “I don’t think he has a phony bone in his body. I think he’s completely legitimate. I don’t know that he’ll get everything done that he promises to do, but he’ll try his damnedest.”

Sanders’ speech, which focused heavily on economic inequality and the need for higher wages, inspired retired teacher Linda Burch.

“My favorite part of his speech is something I believed in all my life: ‘If you want to change the status quo, you can change the status quo,’” the 63-year-old said. “Anything is possible.”