Bernie Sanders tickets Free tickets to Bernie Sanders’ Saturday rally at CU-Boulder’s Potts Field are being distributed on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are required for admission to the rally. Ticket distribution will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday at these locations on the Boulder campus: • The end of “Engine Alley” near the Museum Collections building and Economics building • Near the Gold Biosciences building and Folsom Field on Colorado Avenue • The math courtyard between the Engineering Center and Math building. Parking information: bit.ly/1R08y2o

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story mischaracterized Colorado’s caucus. The state does not have a primary election.

Boulder will see its first visit by a 2016 presidential candidate Saturday when Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders holds a rally on the University of Colorado’s East Campus.

Despite passing last week on a chance to visit CU, the Sanders campaign’s plans for a rally are back on, according to an email to supporters.

Sanders is expected to discuss income and wealth inequality, the “disappearing middle class,” campaign finance reform and his legislation targeting high prescription drug costs, criminal justice reform and college affordability, according to a news release.

The Vermont senator — who was elected as an independent, but is running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president — will host a rally at Potts Field on CU’s East Campus at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Doors open at noon and free tickets are required for admission.

The campaign will distribute those free tickets during the day Thursday and Friday at several locations on campus.

CU is gearing up for election season and expects to be a popular campaign stop for many candidates.

The university, along with cable news network CNBC and the Republican National Committee, are hosting the third Republican presidential debate at the Coors Events Center on Oct. 28.

Campus officials said last week that they had been contacted by members of the Sanders campaign, who later decided not to come when they learned about the availability of outdoor venues.

Then, a few days ago, they struck up the conversation with CU again.

“We were contacted over the weekend and asked again if we would host the event, so we were able to find Potts Field to accommodate this event,” campus spokesman Ryan Huff said Wednesday.

Potts Field can accommodate up to 10,000 people, though it’s unclear how many tickets will be made available for the event.

A spokesman for Sanders’ campaign did not respond to interview requests from the Daily Camera on Wednesday.

Members of the CU Police Department will provide security, along with some other agencies in the region, Huff said.

News of Sanders’ visit prompted chatter on social media, especially among CU students, who this month called on the organizers of the upcoming Republican debate to make more tickets available. Currently, 100 tickets are available to the CU community.

Spencer Biro, communications director for the student group Buffs for Bernie, said he believes the Democratic candidate can capitalize on some of that political activism.

“This is a great stop for Bernie, especially considering he’s going to be here right before the Republican debate,” said Biro, a junior studying computer science. “The debate has upset a lot of people here, and there’s a whole lot of anger on campus toward that and a will for more political involvement at CU.”

Though the College Democrats student group doesn’t endorse candidates, members are still excited that Sanders is stopping in Boulder so early.

“We think it’s really important that people come and listen to college students and get the feel for where young Democrats are going, because I think young Dems are kind of the life of the party,” said Allina Robertson, a graduate student involved with the group. “We’ve got lots to say and we’re just excited that people are listening.”

The early campaign visit also confirms the importance of Boulder County for the Democratic caucus and the importance of Colorado for the general election, said Morgan Young, vice chair of the Boulder County Democratic Party.

Young said Sanders is “extremely popular” with a large segment of the local Democratic population, adding that he believes people who are “just starting to engage in the political process” also are likely to show up on Saturday. He he also expects to see a lot of young people and independents.

Young said while it’s true that Boulder County leans heavily to the left, candidates still need to inspire local voters to turn out on Election Day.

“What this shows is people don’t take Boulder County for granted,” he said. “It’s not just, ‘OK, here’s a Democratic vote.’ It’s about turnout and it’s about excitement.”

Sarah Kuta: 303-473-1106, kutas@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/sarahkuta