'It Looks Like Minnesota Is Ready For Some Change': Elizabeth Warren Stumps In St. Paul

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Thousands of people packed a Minnesota college campus Monday evening to hear one of the top Democratic presidential candidates speak.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren held a town hall at Macalester College in St. Paul. The event was supposed to be indoors, but organizers say the crowd size forced them outside.

A recent poll has Warren edging out Sen. Bernie Sanders for second place among Democrats, with former Vice President Joe Biden in the lead.

"I took off work early and got here about 1:15 p.m. because I really want to be able to see her, and I was expecting there would be a line," said St. Paul resident Sarah Shapley-Melting.

And her expectations were spot on, as thousands flowed into the quad at Macalester for the Massachusetts Senator's first appearance in Minnesota on the campaign trail.

WATCH: Sen. Warren's Full Speech At Macalester College

"It looks like Minnesota is ready for some change in Washington," Warren said.

Warren said the crowd was so large that so couldn't field any questions, instead focusing on the issue she gets asked about the most: Health care, climate change and immigration.

"I think my main issues are climate change because that's where I feel if we don't start fixing the earth, there's not really much that policy can help us with, and immigration reform as well," said Roseville resident Janice Sienna.

Warren pledged that her administration wouldn't separate children from their families at the southern border. She also added that health care should be considered a basic human right.

"Here's our goal -- 100% coverage," Warren said. "We need everybody covered at the lowest possible cost."

The energetic crowd stuck around late

"It was awesome, it was very invigorating," said Warren supporter Nikki Villavicencio.

After Warren spoke, a long line formed yet again, but this time for the chance to take a selfie the Senator. Warren stayed at the event for more than two hours after her speech to take photos.

"I just feel like I can relate a lot of the things that she was saying," said Warren supporter Brittani Wilson. "I love that she has all these plans, I think that's really amazing."

Warren will tour of a nonprofit in Minneapolis Tuesday that helps men with a history of homeless and incarceration get back on their feet. She will then join a round table on criminal justice reform, before heading to California on Wednesday for another town hall.

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