Despite referring to Sioux Falls as “Sioux City” one time, it was an enthusiastic and large crowd packed into the city’s convention center. Addressing a crowd of more than 4,300, the Vermont senator talked for nearly 90 minutes about listening. Namely, listening to young people, those suffering from poverty and listening to the voices that aren’t often heard.

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“I hope all of you understand that it’s not about Bernie, it’s about you,” Sanders said. “The only way we can transform America is when millions of people come together. That’s what this campaign is all about.”

Aberdeen resident Amy Dunlaey was at the rally to hear Sanders speak for the fourth time. An avid supporter, Dunlaey said she listens to almost all the candidate’s speeches online if she can’t be there in person. This time she brought her boys Cole and Tucker to get in on the action.

“There’s no one thing that I love most about him,” Dunlaey said. “But it’s that authenticity, that genuine honesty, that affects all his other platforms.”

Feeding on the energy from the enthusiastic crowd, Sanders spoke about what he calls America’s rigged economy. The presidential hopeful outlined his plan to rectify income inequality by raising the minimum wage and creating millions of jobs by rebuilding the country’s infrastructure.

“We’re working longer hours for lower wages,” Sanders said. “Anybody in America who works 40 hours a week will not be living in poverty.”

Sanders called poverty in America a death sentence, a plight he believes can be righted by listening to young people. Making public colleges and universities tuition-free is one way Sanders wants to do just that.

“Education is essential to human growth,” he said. “But right now we’re punishing people for getting an education. We’re literally discouraging people, it’s crazy stuff.”

The senator plans to make tuition-free higher education a reality by imposing a tax on Wall Street, reducing student loan debt with the same strategy.

But Flandreau resident Bill Canku wasn’t so sure. A member of Flandreau’s Santee Sioux tribe, Canku stood stone-faced, arms crossed as a local rock band played onstage prior to Sanders’ arrival.

“I’m just not sure yet,” Canku said. “There’s not too much I know about him, but he needs to convince me tonight.”

Dr. Krissy Haglund of Minneapolis doesn’t need convincing. Despite trailing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by nearly 300 pledged delegates, Haglund is confident Sanders will win come Nov.

“He has every chance to beat Hillary in a fair primary system,” Haglund said. “Especially with independent voters.”

Sanders said high voter turnout is key to ensuring his win in November., encouraging voters to show their support in the state’s June 7 Democratic primary. Independents and Democrats alike will be able to vote, a move Sanders felt would increase his chances of besting Clinton in the contest.

But winning isn’t all the candidate hopes to achieve with his campaign, changing national priorities comes first. Sanders wants to do that by listening to people whose voices are not often heard, a goal he supported by visiting South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian reservation earlier on Thursday.

“We must change in a fundamental way our relationship to the Native American people,” Sanders said. “We owe them a debt we cannot repay.”

Sanders ended his visit to South Dakota, before heading to Fargo and Bismarck in North Dakota on Friday, with a message of acceptance and support.

“What makes us strong is that when your family is in trouble, my family is there for you,” Sanders said. “At the end of the day, love always trumps hatred.”

Sander’s wife will also help in his campaign Friday as his campaign moves north. It was announced late Thursday that Jane Sanders will visit the Archives Coffee House in Grand Forks with doors for that event opening at 10:30 a.m. Friday at 3012 University Ave. The event, which is free and open to the public, is expected to run from 11 a.m. to noon.