Madeleine Behr

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

APPLETON - Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders told crowds here he was confident GOP front-runner Donald Trump would not be elected president.

"This, I have no doubt about," he told an estimated 3,700 people at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. "Trump will not be elected president because the American people do not want a president who insults Mexicans and Latinos, who insults Muslims, who insults women and veterans, who insults the African-American community."

Tuesday's stop in downtown Appleton was Sanders' first in northeast Wisconsin and comes a day before Trump, the Republican front-runner, is scheduled to appear at a rally at the nearby Radisson Paper Valley Hotel.

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Sanders, in a battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in the race for the presidency, has campaigned primarily in the liberal stronghold of Madison in the lead-up to next Tuesday's Wisconsin primary.

Sanders hit on themes of money in politics and income inequality at the rally.

"I'd rather be here with you in Appleton than begging billionaires for their money," Sanders told the crowd. He then pivoted immediately to Clinton, chastising her for giving speeches and getting money from leaders on Wall Street.

"I don't know why, don't know why, but Wall Street has not invited me to give a speech," he joked. "I don't need $225,000, I don't need $2000 or $2, but I would like to say a few things."

He also criticized Republican Gov. Scott Walker for not favoring a raise in the minimum wage and enacting voter ID laws.

"We're going to take on the Scott Walkers and all of these people," he said.

The crowd was filled with area youth, and the Sanders campaign knew it. Ahead of the rally, alternative rock, dance and punk music sounded throughout the theater. But those who were only young at heart still had their moments, when "Power to the People" and Motown-style songs played.

Ahead of the rally inside the PAC, Sanders spoke to nearly 300 people who didn't make it inside once the PAC reached capacity. The main hall holds about 2,000 people, and an overflow theater was used as well.

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Sanders reached out to those who didn't get in, coming outside to speak briefly with the crowd. He thanked the supporters, and said he should've booked a bigger venue.

"We should've had everybody in one room," he said to the crowd, which gathered behind the PAC at the corner of Division and Washington streets.

Lines began in the early hours of the morning for the event and wrapped around the block by the time doors opened at 9:30 a.m.

Sanders reminded the supporters how he'd won several of the last primaries.

"We have the momentum," he said, "and with your help, we're gonna win here in Wisconsin next week."

Seeing big numbers at the polls on April 5 will be key, he said.

"We win when turnout is high," he told the cheering crowd. "We lose when turnout is low. Let's make sure we have a high turnout."

Four Appleton high school students didn't use their spring break for fun in the sun, instead choosing to catch Sanders at the PAC.

"He advocates a lot on hope for youth," said Appleton North student Sarah Rohm. But friend Sharon Epps-Cool, an Appleton West student, said she likes his ideas but worries about how Sanders would accomplish his universal health care and free college proposals in a divided Congress led by Republicans.

The four girls stood in line with other friends beginning at 5 a.m. to get into the rally. Lines to get in snaked around the Fox Cities PAC starting at 3 a.m.

"I know (President Barack) Obama struggled with it; I don't know what he will change to get Congress on board," said Epps-Cool, sporting a "Feel the Bern" hat.

Epps-Cool and Rohm's friend Yasmeen Ashour, another North student, said they planned to protest Trump's appearance in Appleton on Wednesday.

Another Appleton resident who came out for the Sanders rally was 92-year-old Joe Griesbach, an Appleton resident and former Outagamie County supervisor. Griesbach, an undecided voter, said he's drawn to Sanders' talk on income inequality.

"I like some of his ideas," Griesbach said. "He's just got so much zip."

Kimberly Zitzelsberger, 23, brought friend Jaime Schommer to support Sanders. Both were in line by 6 a.m. after driving to Appleton from Freedom.

"I voted Democrat when the time came, but I don't like Hillary (Clinton)," Schommer said. She likes Sanders' ideas on universal health care and college for all.

"I don't want anybody to have to struggle anymore," said Zitzelsberger, a mother of a 3-year-old son.

Madeleine Behr: 920-996-7226, or mbehr@gannett.com; on Twitter @madeleinebehr