Breathing a progressive political fire, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ignited Colorado supporters with a blistering condemnation of billionaires and corporations, drawing a crowd of nearly 5,000 to Denver — the largest of his Democratic presidential campaign since the May kickoff.

The 73-year-old Independent spoke for an hour and hit a nerve on economic issues as he advocated for an end to income inequality as well as a higher minimum wage, pay equity for women and more government spending on infrastructure.

“What we are doing tonight is we are sending a message to the billionaire class and that is: You can’t have it all!” Sanders said, shouting to a crowd that filled a University of Denver gymnasium and spilled onto a nearby lacrosse field. “The unquenchable greed of the billionaire class is destroying this nation and it has got to end.”

The size and energy of the crowd — which gave Sanders numerous standing ovations and repeatedly chanted his name — reflected a craving among some in the Democratic Party for an alternative to 2016 front-runner Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and first lady.

“I’m glad Bernie’s running,” said Diane Ford, a 73-year-old retiree from Arvada. “I like Hillary and I think she’d be a good president. But she has too much baggage. I just don’t think she has what it takes.”

In an interview with The Denver Post before the event, Sanders said his economic message is resonating. “I think there is a hunger on the part of Americans for some straight talk and some honesty,” he said.

The campaign received more than 7,000 RSVPs for the event but university officials counted between 4,800 and 5,000. The event followed standing-room only crowds in Iowa and Nevada, as well as 3,000 at a Minneapolis rally.

“This is probably the first time since 2008 I’ve been excited,” said Eric Lecuyer, a 34-year-old who twice voted for President Barack Obama and now rattles off polling figures showing Sanders gaining ground in key states.

“I think people are excited to be excited about someone,” the Denver resident explained. “Does he stand a chance against Hillary? Maybe not when he started, but now he’s within in striking distance. … And if nothing else it makes Hillary have to talk about (his issues) and move her a little bit to the left, which would be nice.”

Sanders said he is “creating a political movement of millions of people who stand up and loudly and proudly proclaim that this nation and our government belongs to of all of us and not just a handful of billionaires.”

But his stance on particular issues is likely to alienate some Democrats. Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist, vowed to break up large banks, offer government-paid health care and overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United campaign finance case, replacing it with public funding of elections.

Appealing to the crowd at the expensive private university, Sanders also said he would push to make public college tuition-free, a $70 billion plan he would fund with a “tax on Wall Street speculation.”

Sanders is the latest presidential candidate to rally Colorado supporters with a visit to the state. His Democratic rivals, Clinton and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, campaigned for Colorado Democrats in the 2014 campaign. O’Malley attended a political event in May in Denver and Clinton’s campaign is planning one in Colorado in coming weeks.

Mired in their own messy primary contest, Republicans are enjoying seeing a Democratic challenger undercut Clinton’s campaign.

In a statement, Colorado Republican Party Chairman Steve House “it’s amusing to watch the self proclaimed socialist try to beat Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s heir apparent. The fact is that Coloradans are sick and tired of Sen. Sanders and President Obama’s agenda that has hurt Colorado’s working families.”

John Frank: 303-954-2409, jfrank@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ByJohnFrank