Sanders packs gym, stairwells in Iowa City

IOWA CITY, Iowa – An estimated 1,100 people turned out to hear Bernie Sanders speak on the final day of his three-day campaign tour to the state.

Thea Pettitt, holding baby Lilith, stood among the crowd that spilled out of the gym in a downtown recreation center, appropriately abutting Burlington Street. Lilith sported a tiny T-shirt printed with the face of the Vermont senator.

Pettitt, originally from Montpelier, said that Sanders was the first person she ever voted for during his run for the U.S. House of Representatives. As a resident of Iowa for the past nine years, Sanders will have Pettitt's vote at the February 1st caucus.

"It's gonna be amazing to vote for someone for president who hasn't been bought and sold by corporations," the self-described socialist said.

Pettitt and about 400 others who didn't get into the auditorium after it reached the 700-person capacity listened to Sanders' speech over loudspeakers placed in the lobby. People packed the lobby all the way to the front doors and some found standing room in the stairwell.

Inside the auditorium, Ernie "E" Rairdin, 76, sat in the front row with Nathaniel, 5, on his lap. Rairdin brought his young friend, who he takes care of several days a week, to hear what Sanders had to say.

After the speech, Rairdin said that Sander was "a bit far left" for him, though he preferred Sanders to Hillary Clinton. Rairdin said that he was still undecided on what candidate he would back in the caucus.

One caucus vote that Sanders can count on is that of Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan, who introduced the candidate at the event.

Iowa City is located in Johnson County, which is home to about 140,000 people, according the U.S. Census Bureau. The university town has the highest poverty level of all the stops Sanders made throughout this Iowa campaign trip. Twenty-eight percent of Iowa City residents live below the poverty line, more than double the state average.

Traveling the campaign trail with her husband, Jane Sanders stood to the side of the stage and looked out on the crowd.

When asked if she was tired from the packed schedule in Iowa, Jane Sanders said "No, energized."

As a first-time visitor to the state, Jane Sanders said that she was impressed with the number of people that showed up to the events and the thoughtful questions they asked.

Though Jane Sanders said that she was the voice of caution while the couple considered a run for the Democratic presidential nomination, she is now 100 percent behind her husband of 27 years. The two celebrated their anniversary on Thursday, the first night of campaigning in Iowa.

Jane said that watching her husband speak to a crowd of 700 people in Davenport made her feel the way she did when she first fell in love with Bernie Sanders when he was campaigning for mayor of Burlington.

"It's great to feel proud and impressed by a person you've lived with for 27 years," Jane Sanders said.

Tears came to Jane Sander's eyes as she looked out over the crowd listening to her husband wrap up his speech.

"This many people, so early in the process, it's very inspiring, " she said.

As Bernie Sanders left the stage, he stopped for a single picture with 5-year-old Nathaniel. Rairdin had brought a 3-D camera to capture the moment between his young friend and the 73-year-old senator.

But not everyone got what they wanted from Bernie Sanders.

Sophia Aguirre, who holds the title of Miss Greater Des Moines Outstanding Teen, came with her mother to ask the candidate, "What he would do to deal with Alzheimer's disease?"

The 16-year-old showed up in her sash and crown to raise awareness for her cause. Unfortunately, Bernie Sanders' time ran out before Aguirre got the microphone.

Bernie Sanders continued to a Saturday evening event in Kensett, Iowa. He will speak in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday.

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Sanders hits the stage in Iowa

Sanders fires up supporters in eastern Iowa

Contact Emilie Stigliani at 660-1897 or estigliani@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EmilieStigliani.