Efforts to bring Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, to Utica may have hit a snag. But the event's organizer isn't giving up.

Efforts to bring Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, to Utica may have hit a snag.

But the event’s organizer isn’t giving up.

Herkimer resident Keith Rubino, a local volunteer for the Sanders campaign, had hoped to bring Sanders to the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, March 6.

But Sanders and Democrat Hillary Clinton are expected to take part in a debate that day in Flint, Michigan.

“Right now, it seems as though the campaign is more focused on New Hampshire and South Carolina and what not,” Rubino said Monday, “but when we win (Tuesday's New Hampshire primary), and I can guarantee that we’re going to win Tuesday, I believe that the campaign will stretch its wings and start focusing on those states that are further out like New York and all the other Super Tuesday primaries.”

Attempts to contact Sanders’ campaign were unsuccessful Monday.

But Warren Gill, a regional press secretary for the campaign said Friday that “there's nothing on the schedule at this time.”

“As I'm sure you can imagine, campaign schedules are extraordinarily flexible,” he said. “We'll be sure to advise if he does come to Utica.”

Rubino, meanwhile, said that the rally could be held on a weeknight and that he would like to schedule the event prior to the March 25 deadline for people to register to vote.

But he said another campaign volunteer from Binghamton is trying to get Sanders to speak there.

In the meantime, Rubino said he could find out more Wednesday.

“If it doesn’t work out at the Utica Aud we’re definitely going to try and secure a rally site somewhere in New York, but obviously Utica’s my primary (choice) because I think it’s a central hub location,” Rubino said. “I think it’s a great, prime location for the people in between Albany and Syracuse and since it’s pretty much the heart of Oneida County, it’s a really great place for Sanders to hit upstate New York in one shot.”

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