JERSEY CITY -- The co-founders of Ben & Jerry's ice cream visited Jersey City tonight to drum up support for Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, calling their home senator "genuine and authentic."

In front of a crowd of hundreds at Zeppelin Hall, Ben Cohen said Sanders is the candidate with the proposals to combat the nation's "rigged" economic and justice systems. Sanders' supporters have been silenced by the establishment, Cohen said.

"They wish that we would just go away," he said. "Well, I've got news for them: we're staying and we will continue to fight for the soul of America."

Sanders, a Vermont senator, is hoping to defeat Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, as the two seek the Democratic nomination for president. After four victories in five states last Tuesday, Clinton has a pledged-delegate lead of about 300 over Sanders, who must win the remaining contests by resounding majorities to win the nomination.

Jerry Greenfield said not to count Sanders out, noting that the senator went on a seven-state winning streak beginning in March.

"There has never been a presidential candidate like Bernie," he said.

Sanders didn't make an appearance today, but someone dressed in a "Sesame Street"-style likeness of the Vermont senator was on hand. After speeches by Cohen and Greenfield, Sanders campaign volunteers registered new voters for the June 7 Democratic primary and signed up registered voters to receive mail-in ballots.

There was no sign of top Hudson County Democrats, who are backing Clinton.

Clinton's campaign hopes they can woo Sanders supporters to their side if she wins the nomination in July, but Sanders supporters tonight said there's no chance they'll cast ballots for Clinton. Helga Trocha and Heidi Gutierrez-Pagaduan, said they plan to write in Sanders' name in November if he loses the nomination.

"Hillary is so foul, evil and corrupt," said Paulus Hook's Trocha, who said she switched her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in order to vote for Sanders in June's Democratic primary.

Gutierrez-Pagaduan, 42, of Port Liberte, said she doesn't support Clinton's policies, citing the former secretary of state's relatively recent support of same-sex marriage. Clinton came out in favor of same-sex marriage in 2013, four years later than Sanders.

"Hillary is just part of the machine," she said. "More of the same."

Sanders campaign volunteer John Gnesin, 37, of the city's Bergen-Lafayette section, said he hopes tonight's event will give him "a small army" of volunteers to help Sanders defeat Clinton on June 7. Jersey City's demographics make it friendly territory for Sanders, Gnesin said.

"We want to cover the streets here," he said. "We want to win one for Bernie."

Recent polls show Clinton with a healthy lead over Sanders among New Jersey Democrats.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook