Nick Muscavage

Gannett Albany Bureau

ALBANY, N.Y. — Supporters of Bernie Sanders' presidential bid submitted 80,000 signatures Thursday to get him on the primary ballot in New York, saying the Vermont senator will fare well in Hillary Clinton's home state.

Supporters brought dozen of boxes to the state Board of Elections near the Capitol in a bid to surpass the 15,000 signatures needed to get on the April 19 presidential primary ballot in New York. Clinton's camp was also expected to file about 80,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot.

But it was Sanders' backers that held a news conference outside the elections board to tout his candidacy and say he can contend in New York with Clinton, who lives in Chappaqua, Westchester County, and is the state's former senator.

Kelleigh McKenzie, a delegate from Ulster County for the Sanders’ campaign, said Sanders' campaign has grass-roots enthusiasm.

“In Ulster County, there are several independent Bernie grass-roots groups since last July,” she said. “The enthusiasm and commitment, just the sheer number of hours people are giving, I see it everywhere. I think that what he stands for, his values, appeal to the majority of the people.”

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Sanders is from Brooklyn, but made a political career for himself in Vermont.

“My guess — but we’ll let the numbers speak for themselves — is that Hillary Clinton is viewed by more New York Democrats as the native daughter than Sanders as is the native son,” Steven Greenberg, spokesman for the Siena College Poll, said. The college will have a poll next week on the race in New York.

Greenberg said that Clinton has been elected statewide twice by New York voters, although the last time a decade ago in 2006. But Sanders also has an appeal to New York voters, “so it will be very interesting to see where New York Democrats are,” Greenberg said.

Clinton supporters said she will carry New York.

“Hillary Clinton has the drive, experience and enthusiasm to lead our country forward,” Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, said in a statement. "Hillary has served our nation, both at home and abroad, with distinction and has proven her Democratic values and pragmatic approaches to achieving results."

Cari Gardner, a Sanders delegate from Westchester County, said she supports Sanders.

“Bernie’s got the message that we need to hear,” Gardner said.